A SOLDIER WRITES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 2 January 1941, Page 2

A SOLDIER WRITES

[To the Editor] Sir, —On behalf of the boys of the 4th Reinforcement I would like to thank members of the Nelson Silver Band who have been good enough to turn out at 5.30 in the morning and who have played when we have been returning to Burnham after leave, which has been the final leave for many of the lads who have since proceeded overseas to do their bit. And at the same time I would like to bring this kind action of members of the Silver i Band to the notice of the people of Neli son. I consider that it is up to them to see that this band gets the fair deal that is due to them and net give all to the Garrison Band. It was very interesting to read that the Garrison Band would not be playing in town on Christmas Eve as some of their members would be away, and they did not think that they would be able to do justice to themselves. What would happen if everyone else had the same thought at this time? But it was very pleasing to see that the Silver Band was there on the job and did not let the people of Nelson down so, Nelson, what about it? I would also like to remark on the dinner put on at the Welcome Club in Christchurch by the Nelson Patriotic Council on Saturday, 30th November. I read in the paper extracts from a letter sent by Mr H. C. Harley, where he states that 600 sat down for tea, and that liberal leave had been gi anted to the territorials, who sat down to a meal fit for a king. It was disappointing to the members of the 4th, who were proceeding back to camp on the 30th, that arrangements had not been made for them to go to the Welcome Club that night. They had to proceed to camp and sit down to an army tea that had been kept warm for some hours, when we could have been at the Welcome Club by 6.30 enjoying some of the peas, potatoes, tomatoes and ham that had been so generously given by the Nelson people, and which we felt were given for the overseas boys and not the territorials. The 600 that sat down must have been all territorials as the overseas boys had to be in camp, , so perhaps another time when the Nelson people put on a tea down there a mistake like this might not happen.— I am, etc., A MEMBER OF THE 4th REINFORCEMENT, i Nelson, 31st December.