MAIN BODY MEN.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12573, 10 March 1919, Page 3

MAIN BODY MEN.

WELLINGTON'S PROPOSED RECEPTION. [Per Press Assocutio.v.] WELLINGTON, March 8. Wellington’s reception of the Hororata’s draft is going to take the shape of a welcome on the water, ns the delays of quarantine and “hoarding” will otherwise take the keen edge off the movement. The City Council is endeavouring to arrange for a number of steamers to take next of kin and the public around the ship, and it is more than probable that school children will lie included, in the party, and that they will sing patriotic choruses. A fireworks display on the evening of arrival is also mooted. Girls employed in the Government service have taken an effective hand in the matter. They are rehearsing choruses to be sung to a band accompaniment. and thus the men will get a good musical greeting when the vessel .berths, as well as a musical serenade while the mqn'are waiting out in the harbour. These patriotic girls, five hundred of whom attended a meeting to discuss the arrangements, have subscribed enough to give each man a packet of cigarettes as he lands. Distribution will be undertaken by four of committee, pud the meeting in a spirit of gentle satire, unanimously decided that the distinguishing badge of the workers should ho “ red tape.” One of the principal reasons why the Main Body men were not very unanimous about returning by the Hororata is suggested by an officer, who says that the old hands are given the preference for jobs in England in connection with demobilisation, and that they would like to hold on till the last moment so as to take part in the projected “Victory Procession” through London, when Sir Douglas Haig will head a military procession representing every unit in the field.