FLAGS AND WHISTLES

Evening Post, Volume CXL, Issue 57, 5 September 1945, Page 8

FLAGS AND WHISTLES

As The Gangway Comes Down "Though it would be very pleasant for us if the men who are to come back tomorrow could be prevailed upon to march through the city, they still would not enjoy it, no matter how anxious we might be to show our appreciation," said the Mayor (Mr. Appleton) today, referring to suggestions that a special parade should be arranged to honour the first large number of demobilised men from the Middle East. "What they want to do is to find their wives, children, mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, sweethearts, and what they want to do should come first tomorrow. "What Wellington can do is to , give them a welcome with flags and bunting and Math band music and whistles." The whistles and sirens should start, the Mayor thinks, when the gangway comes down.

kin in Red Cross Transport Auxiliary cars. Taranaki men totalling 107 were taken home by bus and the next off were 307 bound for Lyttelton, who will have leave during the day and travel south by steamer tonight. The Marlborough-Nelson contingent of 39 left on the Picton ferry; and 496 men bound for the Auckland and Manawatu districts came off the boat last at 12.20, and entrained on the wharf 10 minutes later. ENTERTAINING THE VISITORS. For the men who have some time to wait in Wellington and for the Australian and Royal Navy personnel who travelled on the ship, a series of arrangements and invitations had been provided. The Returned Services Association Club at 12 Victoria Street invited all personnel waiting for transport and Imperial personnel staying in Wellington to make use of the club rooms from noon today onwards, and all Australian servicemen were invited to be the guests of the A.I.F. Association at a reception and buffet luncheon at the R.S.A. Club at noon. The Australian association advises it is arranging for hospitality in private homes through its representative, Mrs. Innes. The Patriotic Committee invites servicemen as guests for dancing at the AN.A Club and/ the Allied Services Club, and meals also at the former. Dancing and supper are available at the Victory Club and the Spinsters' Club, at 22 and 15 Manners Street. A dance and supper will be given at the Seamen's Mission, in Stout Street and the Cathoiic Seamen's Institute at 22 Vivian Street, and films and supper at the British Sailors Societj', 138 Wakefield Street. Hospitality is also available at the Ex-Naval and Merchant Navy Club in Hannah's Buildings, Lambton Qy. . Visiting Australian servicemen were issued tickets by the Wellington Metropolitan Patriotic Committee which en dtled them to admission to Wellington theatres as guests of the management. The theatres concerned are-—Regent, ''Suspect," afternoon and evening; Opera House, "The Great Waltz" afternoon and evening; St. James, "Lost in the Harem," afternoon and evening; Tivoli, '-International Squadron" and "Law of the Tropics," 145 p.m. and 7 p.m. respectively; Majestic, "Gone With the Wind," 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. only; Paramount Demobbed," 2 p.m. only Men without tickets may obtain them from the committee's office.