CORONATION PARTY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 71, 23 February 1937, Page 8

CORONATION PARTY.

RETURNED MEN SELECTED. MAORIS INCLUDED. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Feb. 22. It was announced by the Minister of Defence (Hon. F. Jones) to-day that the following ten returned. soldiers now serving in the Territorial Forces had been selected by ballot for inclusion in the military contingent to represent New Zealand at the Coronation Auckland Districts. No- 14-131 James Crichton, V.C., Northboro Road, Takapuna; No. 23426 Gilbert John Parkinson, Opotiki Hotel, Opotiki.

Wellington Districts. No. 10948 Tbos. W. Henderson, Tuna, via Stratford; No. 9-1808 Stanley George Compton, Frasertown, Wairoa. Canterbury Districts. No. 43435 David William Mather, 61 Queen Street, Westport; No. 6-624 William John Eastgate, Weld Street, Hokitika.

Southland Districts. —Charles Harrow, Burrows Street, Bluff; No. 4916 Sinclair R. McLaren, 22 Baldwin Street, North East Valley, Dunedin. Additional Units. Representing Maori returned soldiers: No. 19848 Samuel Wm. Gemmell, Post Office, Napier. South African War veterans : No. 6329 Samuel Steele (Ist Contingent), Cameron Road, Tauranga.

The Minister explained that when the Government decided to despatch a military contingent to represent New Zealand at the King’s Coronation it was arranged that, among ten representatives of returned soldiers now serving in the Territorial Forces, one should represent the South African War veterans and another the Maori race. All applications for inclusion had come to Wellington and a ballot was taken last Friday night with the results as given. There were present at the ballot representatives of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association, South African War Veterans’ Association, Defence Department, Pensions’ Department, and representative of the Minister. In the case of the V.C. holder, his name was not submitted to ballot, the rule being that holders of that honour were eligible for inclusion and would be selected.

The selections are subject to the men passing a final examination but such examination, ‘ however, will not be as stringent as that for the active service.