RETURNING SOLDIERS

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23378, 11 July 1941, Page 8

RETURNING SOLDIERS

RECEPTION PROBLEMS AND SUGGESTIONS , Problems in the reception of soldiers returning from overseas were discussed this week by the committee representing organisations which was formed at a public meeting last week. A 'subcommittee which will have power to act was formed, to comprise the Mayor {Mr E. H. Andrews), the DeputyMayor (Mr M. E. Lyons), the Mayoress (Miss E. Couzins), Mrs Monica Thacker (representing the Women’s Auxiliary of the Returned Soldiers’ Association, Mr F. E. Sutton (Mayor of Lyttelton), Messrs E. F. Willcox (Returned Soldiers’ Association), A. E. Kincaid (Red Cross Society), J. S. Hawkes (Canterbury Automobile Association), and J. H. Kingi (representing the Maoris).

Mr Andrews, outlining difficulties, said that only the briefest notice of the arrival of the soldiers seemed to be obtainable. Again, many of the men did not want to be welcomed at the station. It might be best to meet the men, arrange transport where necessary, and, if there was to be a public welcome, to hold it next day. Also, the various bodies represented in the committee might arrange the welcomes in turn. The next draft would probably arrive shortly, Mr Willcox said, and in any case there should be a committee ready to act—to welcome the men and arrange transport. The Red Cross Society had seen to the distribution of cigarettes and fruit at the stations. The main idea was to see that the boys did not come back unheralded. If the gesture was there at the start, it would grow as larger numbers came back. Supporting Mr Andrews’s remarks, Dr. J. Leslie Will said that while a returning man might at the start not want anything public, he might, having arrived home, start thinking “the city fathers might have made a fuss of us." It did seem that the returning man who had given his best was just as entitled to acclamation in a civic reception as any visitor, no matter how noted. The citizens, too, were entitled to pay a certain amount of homage to those who had been away. Mr Hawkes said that the Automobile Association would give all possible help in transporting men from station to homes, and offers to provide what information they received about the arrival of soldiers were made by Mr Willcox and by Lieutenant A. D. Shepherd (for Lieutenant R. Borland, officer in charge of sick and wounded). Mr J. K. Moloney said that he had been asked by the Union Jack Club to say that the facilities were at the committee’s disposal. ■ The sub-committee will also consider a further suggestion that cards providing information about facilities and reception plans should be given to the soldiers on their arrival.