GREAT WELCOME

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 44, 21 February 1940, Page 8

GREAT WELCOME

CITY GETS READY. NAVAL OCCASION. 1 —- t FINAL PREPARATIONS. PASSES FOR NEXT-OF-KIN. Achilles Day in Auckland will make history, for the welcome home to the heroes of the Xew Zealand warship will be on a scale without precedent, and it is expected that the city will be thronged with record crowds. Plans for the great welcome are being pushed forward rapidly towards conclusion. The Mayor of Auckland, Sir Ernest Davis, made a general survey of the position this morning, and referred to many details that had to be arranged. "After all, our main concern is to ensure that appropriate provision is made for the immediate next-of-kin of the gallant men of H.M.S. Achilles," he said. '•For my part, I should have been delighted to see present at all the gatherings every member and near relative of each family concerned, but extremely limited space requirements have prevented that wish from being fulfilled. With the accommodation available, provision could be made for one member only of each family in the special enclosure at the apex of the Town Hall; for the next-of-kin luncheon in the Concert Chamber; and for the balcony inside the Town Hah; but in the case of wharf passes it has been possible, through the courtesy of the Auckland Harbour Board, which has been closely associated with me in the detailed arrangements, to extend the issue of passes to parents, and, in some cases, other members of the family where the next-of-kin is the wife and the intimate relatives are also in Auckland. At the same time, there is not an Unlimited number of wharf passes, and the issue of them is being given the most careful attention. Difficulties Explained. "I trust that relatives of the next-of-kin as well as citizens generally, will recognise not only the difficulties involved in providing for immediate next-of-kin, but a* well the responsibility resting on the authorities to protect their interests. As an indication of the detailed work involved in this connection I would mention that, approximately 350 telegrams were dispatched last night and to-dtty to immediate next-of-kin acquainting them of the facilities available." Arrangements have been made appropriately to decorate "Achilles Point" with flags and bunting and also to erect there a temporary flag mast. An endeavour will be made on the day of arrival to fly Xelson's signal. Parades Organised. Appreciation was expressed by Sir Ernest of the action of the Returned Soldiers' Association and the Ex-Royal Xaval Men's Association of Xew Zealand, in organising parades. Estimated in strength at 1000, the returned soldiers? parade would assemble at Victoria Street West at 10.5 a.m. And be in readiness to march up Queen Street at 10.20 a.m. in order to take -their appointed positions in the reserved area at 10.30 a.m. The markers would be provided by limbless ex-servicemen. The parade of the Ex-Royal Xaval Men, estimated at 50 strength, would assemble at Wyndbam Street at 10 a.m., and, headed by the Waterside Workers' Band, wouW be in readiness to march up Queen Street at 10.10 a.m., in order to .take up their appointed position at 10.25-a.m. *' It was proposed to outline' the tower an-T portion of the Town Hall fon night illumination purposes, said Sir Ernest. St. John Ambulance. Complete arrangements were being made by the St. John Ambulance Association to attend to- emergency cases among the public. There would be three ambulances, on duty, one stationed at Wyndham Street, another in Victoria Street and another in Myers Street. With reference to the closing, of. primary and secondary public schools, Sir Ernest said that in association with the Minister of. Education he wished to appeal to all private schools in the district to declare whole holiadys as he undertsood had been done in the case of the public schools. The Auckland Provincial Patriotic Council had made itself responsible for the provision of luncheon for 445 members of the senior cadet units who are not resident in Auckland.