VISITORS RATHER DISAPPOINTED

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 40, 15 August 1925, Page 13

VISITORS RATHER DISAPPOINTED

COMPLAINTS OF LACK OF ENTERTAINMENT

"NEEDS OF THE'MEN OVER-

LOOKED."

Dull days, and not alone in Wellington, have taken a good deal from the pelasure of any visit, and there is no question that Borne of the visitors are disappointed with their first few days in New Zealand. Auckland people, tremendously proud, of their city, have been shocked by the candid remarks of some of the men, who say that they have had rather a thin, time, for, they consider, scant attention has been given to their entertainment, while the officers have been very well catered for. Wellington's visitors previously made no such caustic complaint, but since their shipmates at Auckland have expressed themselves so freely, some of the men spoken to to-day have added their opinions as to Wellington; they are less sweeping in their assertions. But they are, nevertheless, disappointed. We appreciate what you are doing for us and what has been mapped out for next week, said one of them, after a good deal of hesitation, but it does seem that the map is not quite big enough. There are a whole lot of us, we rev lise that, but there are quite a_ few of you. What we mostly want is to shake a hand and be friendly with all of you. The men like entertainment, any amount of it, said one of their officers, and they like dancing better. That old proverb as to the amount of work which a certain unpleasant old gentleman invariably finds for idle hands applies very neatly in this case.

"The Post's" special correspondent at Auckland writes:—

"The weather and other conditions in Auckland since the arrival of the American warships seem to have created a feeling of disappointment among the men of the fleet. The provision made for the entertainment of the men, particularly on the two wet days", has been insaflkient, and, not unnaturally, they have Ijccn unable to repress.an inclination to make comparisons with the good time that they had in Sydney.

"Complaint is made by both papers that while an abundance of entertainment has been provided for the officers the needs of the men have been overlooked, perhaps unconsciously, to some extent. It is pointed out that Auckland still is only a small place, comparatively speaking, and that as several thousand sailors are ashore, each afternoon and evening an enlarged programme of amusement is required. It is remarked that there is a lack of human companionship and friendship. The 'Herald' remarks: 'It is unfortunately true that most of the organised entertainment is for the officers of the fleet, who have the additional advantage of being invited t oprivate dances and evenings. Many of them, in fact, will be surfeited with this form of hospitality before the time comes_ for them to take their leave. In striking contrast to this hundreds of men are left to walk the streets on cold, stormy nights, and it is little wonder that some of them have declared their intention of returning to their ships and staying there.' "The local branch of the Navy League is providing a dance nightly for the men at the ulcb on one of the wharves, and this has proved fairly successful. All present speak highly of the behaviour o£ the men, who have impressed their partners with their intelligence Sind their wide range of conversational subjects. The demeanour of the men, in fact, has been excellent, and it is remarked that it seems a pity that this method of entertaining the men cannot be extended, so as to cater for the larger number of visitors, for the club cannot accommodate more than a mere fraction of those in port. The only flaw in the arrangements yesterday evening was that there were not enough partners. With one or two exceptions the ladies were drawn from the ranks of the league membership, and there is no doubt the club would make a wider appeal if the men were allowed to invite some of the girls with whom they have become acquainted since coming to Auckland. The shortage of partners yesterday evening was largely due to the fact that many of the ladies who were present on two previous evenings were atending the Victoria and Navy League ball in the Town Hall. 'The < complaint, of lack of sufficient entertainment already has had a good effect. The Government is arranging extra special trips to Kotorua. Two detachments of 550 men each will be taken there next week. A party of fifty Maoris also is being brought from Rotoma to give Bpecial entertainment in Auckland for the benefit of the Bailors. The Automobile Association is arranging for outings for the men each afternoon, while arrangements also are in hand for private hospitality."