WANGANUI MEN IN 2ND N.Z.E.F.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 85, Issue 188, 12 August 1941, Page 4

WANGANUI MEN IN 2ND N.Z.E.F.

CIVIC GATHERING TO-DAY STATEMENT ISSUED BY COMMITTEE Wanganui men serving with the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force, and at present home on leave, will be entertained at afternoon tea in the City Council Chambers at 3 p.m. to-day. The reception nas been arranged by the special committee of the Wanganui City Council set up to organise gatherings in honour of the -soldiers. Near relatives of the men. and also their fiancees, are invited. Sergeant J. B. F. Co’.terill. M.P. for Wanganui. Mr. R. C. Talbovs, president of the Wanganui branch of the Neu Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association. and Mr. 11. M. Keesing. chairman of the Wanganui City Patriotic Committee, will be associated wdh the City Council at the .gathering. A statement on the work of the committee appointed by the council was issued last night. The committee consists of the Major. Hon. W. J. Rogers. M.L.C., and f|ur returned soldiers on the council Crs. J. J. Scott. T. S. Russell. E. \V. Merewether, and G. I. Jones. The statement issued was:—

“At a meeting of the sub-committee of the council set up to arrange civicgatherings in honour of local citizens the Mayor was requested to give publicity to the following statement: “The plicy pursued by the Army Department for some time past in refusing to supply particulars regarding men on leave is fully appreciated and justified beyond question. However, the difficulty presented by this decision in arranging suitable functions in honour of those concerned, is very great, as no information can be gleanod in official quarters. The grounds leading to a discontinuation of civic functions of this nature were valid in the circumstances prevailing, and in deciding to revive them and to issue a general invitation through the Press (this being the only method by which notification can be given), it will be seen that an attempt is being made to overcome the extreme difficulties of an awkward situation.

“Were the men themselves able to advise their imminent presence in the city, and maybe they are prevented from so doing by the exigencies of the moment, arrangements could at once be put in train for a suitable function. In such an event, with the numbers known beforehand, together with other essential particulars, little more could be desired and a highly successful issue would result. “It is hoped that the function arranged by the sub-committee in the name of the city, for the purpose of informally en-ertaining at afternoon tea the men of this draft on leave, in the company of their nearest relatives. will be but the forerunner of similar receptions held as long as there remains any necessity for such action.”