WANGANUI INCIDENT

Evening Post, Volume XCIX, Issue 77, 31 March 1920, Page 5

WANGANUI INCIDENT

RETURNED SOLDIERS AND PRINCE'S WELCOME.

(EY TELEORAPH.—SPECIAL TO HIE POST.)

WANGANUI, This Day. The returned soldiers of Wanganui being anxious to take a proimnent"part in the welcome to the "Digger" Prince, feel that an attempt has been, made to keep them in the background, and this they are resenting. They are equally determined that they shall have some say in affairs. The question was discussed .at a meeting of the R.S.A. on Monday, and in reply, to a query as to whether the car arranged for the Prince was one owned by a person of foreign extraction, the President said he had given, the Mayor to thoroughly understand that if the Prince had to be driven

a returned soldier should drive him. He had also, told his Worship that if other than a purely British-owned car was hired to convey the Prince from the railway station, it might be necessary for the returned soldiers of SWanganui to remove His Royal Highness from such a- car, and they did not want anything of the kind to Occur. It was unanimously decided that a returned soldier should be given the privilege of driving the Prince if a- car was required. The President suggested that it would be a good idea on the occasion of the Prince's arrival if they used "Digger" muscle in-; stead of benzine to propel the car from the railway station to the hotel—a suggestion which found favour with many. The Mayor to-day explained that all the cars to be used, had been arranged for by the Government, but the Prince was bringing his own car and, chauffeur.

In a circular inviting returned men to be present at the military parade to be held in Wellington on 4th May in order that they may receive their awards at the hands of the Prince of Wales, the secretary of the Returned Soldiers' Assor ■ciation states: —"I am quite aware that men who have done such good work at the fnont are always more or less shy of receiving public acknowledgment, but it is the very strong wish, not only of the Defence Department, but also, of this association, that the general public should realise the class of men they have in their midst. Therefore, I have to ask you very sincerely to make a very special effort _to be present." Rail' warrants are being.supplied to those men who have to come from a distance. Already forty applications for presentation- of medals by the Prince have been received from exsoldiers resident in the Wellington military group.'