RECEPTION IN BRITAIN

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23316, 27 September 1945, Page 5

RECEPTION IN BRITAIN

Men Of N.Z.E.F. Advanced Arrangements N'.Z.P A.—Special Corropo’ideut (Rec. 7.55 p.mJ LONDON. Sept. 26. Arrangements for the reception and entertainment of men from the New Zealand Division, who will be visiting Britain during the coming months wn leave, are now well advanced. They will arrive at Folkestone, where the transit "camp” will be in the Metropole Hotel, which is capable of accommodating 1000 men. After a night there they will continue their journey to London or for any destination. Their leave will begin from the time they reach Folkestone. In London thev will find three New Zealand clubs ready to cater for them —all reserved for New Zealanders only. The most central will be the New Zealand Forces Club in Charing Cross Road, not far from New Zealand House, and which was known to thousands of New Zealanders during the war. This will be the central meeting place, with restaurant and two bars. It has no sleeping accommodation. This will be provided at both the Fernleaf and Milestone Clubs, both of which are about a mile or more from Picadilly Circus in Lowndes Square and Kensington High Street respectively. Between them they will be able to provide nearly 1000 beds and at each there are restaurants, bars and excellent facilities. It is hoped that all men will have a fairly definite idea of how they want to spend their leave and whether they want to remain in London or visit various parts of Great Britain. Every assistance will be given to them. ' In London coaches will be provided with guides for them to go on sightseeing tours of the city and to such places of interest as Windsor Castle and Hampton Court. Theatres Booked Out

Although every London theatre is heavily booked it is hoped that some will be persuaded to provide a certain number of seats each night for the New Zealanders. An indication of just how heavily booked they are was the reply given to a New Zealand soldier who asked this week for dress circle seats at a popular theatre. It was suggested that he might return again and inquire in December! At another theatre he was told there was standing room only. Arrangements are being made by the Queensberry Club to hold New Zealand evenings once a week, when a revue show will be staged, while a number of seats will be reserved for those wishing to see the club’s regular boxing matches. Arrangements are also being considered for holding special New Zealand dances. Private hospitality will be available in homes throughout the country for those wishing to take advantage of it. The New Zealanders will find prices high, particularly in London, and that it is not too easy to get whisky, beer or cigarettes outside their own clubs. The majority of hotels are full each night and it is extremely difficult to get a room without booking well in advance. Restaurants, eating clubs and cabarets are packed every night and some wonderful prices can be paid for meals and drinks. Certain West End areas do not exactly resemble a girl’s seminary. Soldiers of all nationalities can be seen therein bartering loot from all over Europe and recently fights around midnight Sre not uncommon. In the Piccadilly Circus area at certain hours there can be seen military police vans of the various services drawn up ready to remove recalcitrants or those who have had the worst of brawls. It is not intended to overemphasise this aspect of London life, but nevertheless it is there. The New Zealanders will find a boom in sport and, of course, they will be able to see their own divisional Rugby side and also the New Zealand Services team which began the season well last Saturday bv beating Wasps by 14 points to 3. They will also find that wherever they go throughout Britain thev will receive a cordial welcome, for the n*me of the Division and of New Zealanders stands high everywhere.