CITIZENS' DEFENCE CORPS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVI, Issue 16922, 30 July 1915, Page 9

CITIZENS' DEFENCE CORPS.

*JARE OF RETURNED SOLDIERS. A meeting of the committee ap J pointed by the Citizens' Defence Corps fco assist in the oare of returned soldiers met last evening in the offices! of the corps in Hereford Street. There was a large attendance and Mr Q. Harper presided. Iho Vetarans' Association wrote, offering the committee the use of rooms in Gloucester Street for offices and recreation rooms for the soldiers. Tue association aJso offered to cooperate With the committee in any way possible. The Y.iI.C.A. also offered to extend its hospitality to soldiers, giving them the free usa of the association'a building for a mouth or a period to be arranged. loose offers, together with the duty of inspecting other rooms au.table for tho committee's purposes in providing jccroation rooms for the men, were refeired to a committee, consisting of Messrs El'.iott, Turnbull and Wallace, with power to act, in conjunction with the president. It was reported that a number of offers of accommodation in houses in the country for convalescent soldiers had been received, and that the picture theatr3s had offered to admit B"turned soldiers free if furnished wilh a, pnss from the committee. It was also reported that probably the Christchurch Tramway Board would grant a similar privilege to the returned men. It was decided to thank those whd tad made the offers, and to announce that further particulars concerning the offers of accommodation should be given at the Citizens' Defence Corps' office. During the discussion it was also decided to ended»cur to obtain from the Museum and College Library Committee permission for the returned soldiers to use the magazines room at the Library Mr P. W. Johnston stated that in reply to his suggestion that he should go to Wellington to make arrangements for meeting soldiers returning to Christchurch. Colonel It. A. Chnffey

had slated that the confusion when the \\ iilnehra's men arrivod at the Cbristchurch Railway Station had been duo to the fault of the Railway Department n not keeping the platform clear of the public. Otherwise the arrangements had worked like clockwork. I-, was the duty of the Defence Department to deliver the returned wounded to the Hospital or their riomes, and he did not think it was necessary to h:tve «anyone outside the Department to assist in the organisation of the arrangements. Mr Johnston said that h's idea of clockwork did not agree w'th Colonel Chaffey's, bub in view '-f the reply he would go no further with his proposal at present. If a similar jumble occurred again ho would rwnme the question.