AIR FORCE LEAVE

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 64, 16 March 1944, Page 4

AIR FORCE LEAVE

I heartily agree with "One Who Knows" re the Air Force leave. A statement was recently published to the effect that all train traffic was reduced by 50 per cent. How is it then that our Air Force boys are not allowed to travel at all? It was also stated that preference was given to military requirements. In my opinion the majority of so-called "military requirements" are nothing of the sort, as it is quite unnecessary to send men to aerodromes as far from their home town as possible. For instance, during the two years my husband has been serving in tjae Air Force he has spent 18 months over 500 miles from home, and at Christmas spent as many days travelling as he did at home. He was not allowed to have more leave then yet is forced to take the remainder before March 31, and although he is now in the Waikato is informed that as he wishes to travel over 50 miles to his home in Auckland he cannot be granted any leave at all. When the Air Force choose to send men 500 miles away from their homes it matters nothing to them if the men have to stand all night on the train as many have been forced to do. Therefore, one wonders why they could not be allowed to stand for these few miles if nothing better can be arranged. After being absent from their homes and working such long hours without any extra pay, surely it is most unreasonable to deprive the men of a few days with their wives and children. ANOTHER WHO KNOWS.