N.Z. MIDDLE EAST FORCES

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24679, 24 September 1945, Page 4

N.Z. MIDDLE EAST FORCES

* Fortnight’s Leave In Great Britain RETURN TO DOMINION VIA ITALY (Prom Our Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON. September 23. Proposals submitted by LieutenantGeneral Sir Bernard Freyberg for a leave scheme under which members of the 2nd N.Z.E.F. waiting to return to New Zealand will visit the United Kingdom have been approved by the Government, according to a statement made by the Minister of Defence (the Hon. F. Jones) this evening. Parties of troops will travel overland from Italy through France in the divisional motor transport to a Channel port. After crossing to England by Channel ferries the troops will go to the reception group camps which were established for repatriated New Zealand prisoners of war. They will then be granted two weeks’ leave on pay and subsistence allowance, with a free railway Tiass to any part of the British Isles to visit relatives, friends, business connexions, or places of interest. Arrangements will also be made for the men to draw reasonanle advances of pay before going on leave. The New Zealand Club in London is making preparations to cater for the influx of large-numbers to London. When their leave expires the men will return to the reception group camps before crossing the Channel to return to Italy in divisional motor transport preparatory to embarking for New Zealand. Mr Jones said he wished to emphasise that the leave scheme would not in any w.ay-interfere with the return of men to New Zealand. Ships were being allotted by the British Ministry of Transport on a monthly basis, and men were being given priorities for homeward voyage according to their length of service overseas. The main purpose of the scheme was to relieve the monotony while the men were waiting for ships to bring them to New Zealand. He felt certain the men would greatly appreciate the break and the opportunity of seeing Britain. "Since v-JS Day the Government has done everything possible to get the requisite shipping to bring the men home as quickly as possible, and is watching the position closely with the object of accelerating their return,” said Mr Jones. ‘‘Up to the present, priority has been given to getting repatriated prisoners of war home, but now that nearly all these men have been provided for it is hoped that it will be possible to step up the rate of return of the men from Italy.” LEAVE PARTIES FROM ITALY ACCOMMODATION MADE READY IN LONDON (Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A-) LONDON, September 21. It is understood that the first draft of men on furlough from the 2nd New Zealand Division will leave Italy on October 5, and is expected to arrive in England about October "13. The largest number of members of .the division in Britain at any one time will be 1500. The Fernleaf Club in Lowndes square, London, which has 300 beds, has secured additional accommodation bv taking over the Milestone Club in Kensington High street, not far away. Until recently this club was occupied by the Americans. It has 600 beds as well as a restaurant. It will be managed by Captain R. G. Slogan, who also manages the Fernleaf Club, assisted by Lieutenant I. C. Cooper and Second-Lieutenant R. A. Prebble. Fifteen hundred New Zealanders will leave for home from Southampton on Sunday in the troopship Andes.