PUBLIC WELCOME

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21150, 19 July 1943, Page 4

PUBLIC WELCOME

RETURNED SERVICES NEXT SATURDAY FIXED FURTHER FUNCTION ALSO Arrangement; to publicly welcome members of the Second N.Z.E.F. who returned home on furlough this week and also other members of Ihe services who were home from overseas were made at a meeting of representatives of the Gisborne Borough Council and the Gisborne Returned Services' Association on Friday night. Next Saturday was set aside for one series of functions, with another to be held later.

Coming to a decision on the nature of the functions to be held, the meeting agreed that they should be varied to some extent so that at least on one occasion the soldiers should have the opportunity of bringing their next-of-kin.

The following programme was tenia lively approved:- Civic reception at midday or shortly thereafter, luncheon organised by the R.S.A.. some form of afternoon entertainment, and a smoke concert in the evening, with a grand welcoming ball to follow at another date.

The date selected for the civic reception and smaller functions was Saturday, July 24. It was decided to hold the reception ceremony on the parade ground in front of the. Army Hall, Fitzherbert street, at 12.15 p.m. on that date, to be followed by the luncheon at a place to be arranged for by the R.S.A.. The smoke concert in the evening will be the particular care of tire East Coast Provincial Patriotic Council. All functions are lo be tendered in honour of the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force furlough men and other returned services people of the current war. , , . , The welcoming ball, at which arrangements will be made to entertain next-of-kin. as well as the returned men themselves, will be organised probably early.next month. The authorities represented chieily in the welcome next Saturday will be the Gisborne Borough Council and the Cook County Council, with various groups of citizens and country residents organised within the town and country. Ali returned services people throughout the district, however will be entitled to attend all or any ’of the Saturday’s functions in company with their service friends.