CHILLY RECEPTIONS.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXVI, Issue 17554, 25 April 1919, Page 5

CHILLY RECEPTIONS.

RETURNING SOLDIERS

NEGLECTED

SOME SCATHING REMARKE

The chilly reception given returning soldiers was scathingly referred to by Mr J. Donaldson, one of the Borough Council candidates at a meeting at the Wanganui East Town Hall last night. He contrasted the home-coming with the send-off with accompanying plaudits and promises of a warm welcome back.

Proceeding, the speaker said the "Rip Van Winkle" Council did not trouble about the enemy alien question. It was a very unfortunate.thing that some of Mr Mackay's supporters I wore trying to make out that caste was a necessary quality for the Mayoralty in view of the visit of Royalty. It should not matter whether a man lived in a two roomed house or a mansion. All" men should be judged by their moral and personal capability alone. The fact that distinguished people were coming should not count,"and if Wanganui's own soldiers were not welcomed properly could they expect a better job of a bigger job. In any case, Royalty did not do any more than the New Zealand soldiers who "went over the top" in France and Flander3. (Applause.)

In conclusion the speaker said the caste argument was a contemptible sort of engineering to try and place a candidate in the Mayoral chair. It showed, however, the little undercurrents at work.