TROOPS ON HOME SERVICE

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22892, 13 December 1939, Page 14

TROOPS ON HOME SERVICE

HOLIDAY LEAVE FOR 24 HOURS MINISTER ANNOUNCES ARRANGEMENTS (PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) WELLINGTON, December 12. Arrangements . for the granting of holiday leave to soldiers on home service were announced this evening by the Minister for Defence (the Hon. F. Jones). He said members of the mobilised units of the territorial force and guards and coast watching detachments were to bg granted 24 hours holiday leave on one of the three following days—Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Year’s Day. Because of the necessity for such units to be ready to carry out their normal duties, it would not be possible to arrange for personnel to be given extended Christmas or New Year leave. “Members of the second echelon of the Special Force may be given leave from December 22 to January 3,” said Mr Jones. “If, on the other hand, the men desire to remain in the camps, they may do so. “Members of the Maori battalion may be given leave on the same conditions as those applying to the second echelon.” * Mr Jones said that in all cases mentioned it must be distinctly understood that any travelling on leave would be at the expense of the individual concerned. No travelling warrants for boat or rail would be granted; but advantage might be taken of the concession fares granted to troops'. CANDIDATES FOR AIR FORCE SELECTION COMMITTEE LEAVES DUNEDIN (PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) DUNEDIN, December 12. .The special committee set up to examine and select candidates for the Air Force has completed its task here. One hundred and fifteen were examined. all being accepted, with two possible exceptions, subject to passing the medical test. The committee will go to-morrow to Oamaru (11 applicants), Timaru (26), Ashburton’ (15), Christchurch (180), and then to Wellington (296). Other northern districts have been completed. The sittings conclude on December 22 in the South Island when 1700 cam didates will have been examined.

SUPPLIES OF KNITTING WOOL

SHORTAGE REPORTED (PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) AUCKLAND, December 12. The difficulty of securing sufficient supplies of. knitting wool is likely to interfere with, the making of socks for members of the New Zealand Armed Forces. It was originally intended that wool should be purchased in bulk and distributed to the various committees, but it is now announced that owing to the shortage of supplies it has been found impossible to purchase wool on a bulk basis, and the various committees have been advised to obtain whatever supplies may be available locally. Already £2OO has been spent in Auckland in buying knitting wool, and an endeavour is being made to obtain further supplies. ,