LETTERS TO THE EDITOR. "WAKE UP, CHRISTCHURCH!" THE SOLDIERS' RECEPTION.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume II, Issue 532, 23 October 1915, Page 8

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

"WAKE UP, CHRISTCHURCH!"

THE SOLDIERS' RECEPTION.

To the Editor of THE SUN. Sir,—When I commenced the ar- ' tide by/'Wake ..up, Christchurch!" published in your columns'this; evening, I said to myself, "Thank God, at least one person is awake in our midst!" Then I read further and was disappointed, for I discovered that the writer was himself asleep. No person who is Half awake to what is going on around us would infer that all that the so-called "Nonconformist" Church is doing in the way of prayer for the present crisis is an occasional united service of intercession. Does not "Wake Up, Christchurch!" know that there arc-at leakst two. services' '. ; in every church each Sunday "where// ; prayer for the great war is seldom omitted? Is he not aware of the fact that there arc about; 50 "Nonconformist" places of ' worship around us where at regular weeknight meetings and prayer meetings -'- the same great subject is the chief burden, at present, of those earnest souls who gather together? Has he not heard of the mid-da^"service of intercession in St. Paulls/ /Cashel, Street, and numerous other services with which I thought all were acquainted? Surely your correspondent wrote the article in his sleep, and needs himself to be aroused!—l am, etc., ONE WHO PRAYS. October 22.

Tbtiie Editor of THE SUN.' : v'. : ' v Sir,—As a relative of one of tha returning soldiers, I would like to ask the Reception Committee why the charge to the general public is being made. Is it to be a f £elect : little party, or a public reception? : As far ... as I can remember all the; public- re- , ceptions field here have been very , poorly attended, and if th& charge of 1/- and 2/- is to be made, I am afraid our soldiers ; will not be. very, impressed with the attendance, to wel- , , come them. Why not free admittance, arid a ! collection* and-fill 'the hall to overflowing, and give them; ; a really great ovation? , Then again as regards invitation, tickets, one for each soldier is, I be- ; r ' lieve," to be issued, therefore in. the case of two sisters, or sister and brother, one has :tb stay away, or be separated from the Other, and pay for admittance to the public I think that if the committee still decide to charge, they should certainly issue special tickets, say, at 2/6 for members of the family that do not receive the one pass issued, so as they can all be together.

I trust The Sun will take this matter up, as they have others of public interest, as it looks as present as if.; Christchurch is to again lead tho way in how not to do things.—l am, etc., v . , .•: INTERESTED. J v [The above letter was submitted . to Mr F. Hobbs (convener of the Entertainment Committee) by a Sun representative this morning. Mc ■ Hobbs said that the, idea of making, a charge for admission was that the . " reception should be self-supporting^ ;! ' V and that the Patriotic Committee should not have to draw on its main funds, which" were more urgently needed for the payment of pensions and the relief of w r ounded men. The Colosseum was being granted free ~6t \ 1 charge, but there would be a certain expense in connection with the decoration of the hall and the catering. As the men were likely to arrive in the evening, it had been considered proper to provide them with a good [meal. The seating accommodation \ for the general public was sufficient, for 1500 people. The invitations to relatives of the returned men were being issued, not by the committee,! but by the Government. In special cases, where more tickets were required than were, issued by the Government, applications from other relatives would be considered by the s t ... , would be provided near the tables ' for those relatives not officially invited, so that they could be close to the soldiers, whom they- wished to - r meet.—Ed. The Sun.]