LUNCHEONS FOR REINFORCEMENTS.

North Otago Times, Volume CIV, Issue 13795, 3 February 1917, Page 1

LUNCHEONS FOR REINFORCEMENTS.

STATEMENT. BY THE MAYOR, " The Mayor, at the meeting of tli Borough Council last night, said he Iw been asked to make a statement wit! .regard to the'send-offs to reinforce merits. A. committee consisting of i substantial pavt of the council had beei appointed to make arrangements for en tertaiiuhg the men, They decided 01 a certain course of action. The lun cheons were to be given in the Queen'; Hotel, and the price agreed upon wai very satisfactory, It was decided tha invitations be sent to the men who wen going away, to' the wives of any wht wero married, and in cases where tin men were single an invitation was to bi sent to the father, mother, sister, o: brother. Invitations were also to b< given to a minister, the staff officers, tin chairman of the County CouLcil, Mr J Anstey, M.P., and Mr E. P. Lee, M.P The Mayor, as representative of the Borough Council, was to act as host and the committee was unanimous or this, The luncheons were'both carriet out properly, and he believed they gav< universal satisfaction, Councillor Ongley: "Not universal.' The Mayor accepted the correction and said, "almost'universal satisfac Hon." He had been blamed in one instance for what he really'had no control over, His duties were purely civic ai'i'd he had no right to interfere with the duties of the military .authorities; but the part which fell to Hie Borough Council, and which they undertook tc attend to, were carried out to the satisfaction of all. Councillor forrester said that one ol the primary ideas was to give the men a good spread. The Mayor: Yes, and that the council was generous was shown by the fact that those present doubled in number those who were going away. Councillor Ongley said he was pleased to hear that the men had been given a good spread. He knew of one luncheon at which there was a very large attendance un-'I hardly the cumbs were left for the. soldiers. Councillor Cooney said the council's aprnad was fo:- the soldiers, not the public.