COINS AND EGGS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 251, 23 October 1945, Page 6

COINS AND EGGS

I SOLDIERS INCENSED I , ANDES' LATE ARRIVAL P.A. CHRISTCHURCH, this day. "Welcome home except on Labour Day. We are going to the races." These words painted on a canvas sign which hung over the side of the troopship Andes when she berthed at Lyttelton this morning expressed the grievance felt by the returning servicemen aboard the vessel. When the Andes left Melbotirne at 7 a.m. last Thursday the men expected to reach Lyttelton on Sunday morning. On Friday, however, they were told there would be no labour available to work the ship at Lyttelton on Sunday or Monday and she would therefore not berth before this morning. "We broke the Mauretania's record from Southampton to Melbourne, 'doing the trip in 23 days and six hours," said one soldier who has returned to New Zealand after four years in German prison camps. "We had a day's leave in Melbourne last Wednesday and left there about 7 a.m. on Thursday. We waddled across the Tasman like a dirtv old duck." When it was announced that the Andes would not berth until today. he added, everyone became very "edgy." There was much dissatisfaction at what the men considered an unnecessary delay. As the ship drew alongside the personnel voiced their disapproval. Shouts of "Did you enjoy your holiday yesterday?" "How was Labour Day?" "Are you going to work today?" were addressed to those on the wharf. Showers of pennies with occasional shillings and half-crowns were apparently an incentive to those ashore to do something to hasten the berthing. There were uncomplimentary references to "wharfies," although there was none on the jetty. In spite of their gibes, however, the Servicemen were in good spirits, and there did not seem to be any real rancour behind their remarks. An egg sailed down with one shower of coins before the ship berthed, but failed to register a hit. Shortly after the ship berthed the official party which had gone out to her by launch went down the gangway. More eggs fell about this party, which included the Minister of Defence, Mr. Jones, and the Minister of Supply, Mr. Sullivan. Inquiries made at the Harbour Board and Navy Offices, Railways Department and Southern Military District Headquarters failed to confirm that the Andes' time of arrival had been postponed because of the Labour Day holiday. All the officials interviewed said to-day had been fixed as the date of arrival for some time. 'The personnel in the Andes plan to make a demonstration in Wellington on their arrival to-morrow. One group has prepared a banner which will be displayed when the ship reaches Wellington. It states: "Well done, boys; welcome home except on Sundays and holidays."