MILITARY PAGEANT

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 11735, 24 January 1924, Page 9

MILITARY PAGEANT

R.S.A. QUEEN. TO REPRESENT NURSE CAVELL A meeting was held at the R.S.A. headquarters last night to elect a Queen for the Military Pageant, to be held in March. Colonel G. R. Hall presided over a email gathering, and said the pageant was for the purpose of raising much needed funds for the community dun and for the territorial forces. Tho It.S.A. had agreed to assist in the pageant, feeling that the soldier of to-day should assist the soldier of tomorrow. Four Queens had already been selected as follow: —Queen Elizabeth, Joan of Aro, Marv Queen of Scots and Britannia.. A strong recommendation had been made that the R.S.A. should select Nurse Cavell -as their character. She was an outstanding figure in the war, showing unflinching heroism in the face of ce. - tain death. Having selected a Queen he suggested that a central committee should be formed which would meet at regular periods. Mr W. Edwards, of the South African Veterans’ Association, said he would place the proposal before the members with, a view to getting their support for the R.S.A. Queen. The chairman explained the procedure for the election of the Carnival Queen. If Nurse Cavell was selected it was suggested that the part should be taken by a nurse well-known to them all and especially soldiers, and that her maids of honour should also be selected from tho nursing staff. Some discussion took .place os to whether the R.S.A. should represent Nnrso Oavell or Florence Nightingale, while another suggestion was “Zostlandite.” A large majority decided infavour of Nurse Oavell. Tho maids of honour will represent various branches of the nursing service during the war. The selection of the Queen was left in the hands of a sub-committee of ladies including representatives from the Ex-Siervice Women’s Association, Women’s Naval Reserve, South African Veterans, etc., and two gentlemen, as follow: Mrs McHugh, Mrs Murphy, 'Miffs uNjeilson, Mrs Dormer, Colonel Hall and Mr Taylor. Sub-committees were elected for each of the outlying districts which will he worked by them.