INDULGENCE PASSAGES FOR SOLDIERS' WIVES

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 91, 11 January 1919, Page 6

INDULGENCE PASSAGES FOR SOLDIERS' WIVES

A LIMITED I'RmLEGR. The "position in regard tG -indulgence passages granted on 6hips 'returning to•New Zealand from the Old Country ■ ; w evidently not ..thoroughly, understood in the.Domiuion, Ihe,result heing that :a heavy, demand has.set for/freo_ passages for. ; relatives of.6oldier3' wlio • to visit, Prance, or to'.return f row .ling" land.'to, the Dominion: . .. ~ >There.'are hundreds of people;.w ; hb believe. that'indulgence ,passages fire obtain-. :able, /but Hits is;.not ~the'.case; ~ The privilege is necessarily limited, and is Kpiiijfr to ;cost the country a . large, euro,, as all British, overseas shipping; itiunderthe , control of the- ..(Ministry of Shipping, to whom. the.-New ZealandGov.ernnicnt pays a yer.capita.'.rate;,for 'all persons carried.; • .' ' " ''• ■ ,Indulgence • passage? are .only.' granted in the following cases;—. '. ." • "(a) Eree passages to wives of deceased soldiers are provided by the Govprn--iiienC such, being . .arranged by,. t.)je.-.3lcw Zealand authorities in liiig.Ui.iid or

j>K.YPI- '• ' (6.) 'Assisted passage's . where, .fiqlumrs liaye married _abroa'd .since*., proceeding; .oji; active .service, or if married;' pre-, vio'usjy,and wives '..reached '"the Tjiiited Kingdom or Egypt, up' to Decern-' ber 31, .1017: . These • passages; are pro-' vided by trio Defence and Immigration: liepartments; atid are arranged, by. . tlr 'New;. Zealand .authorities pytiseas, ; . but' are subject '.to' accommodation, ;rerjjijre-' ;n\ehta;in connection .with .the demobjlisa- . tioh of the 'Expeditionary; Force.;; " ; .'. WherjC, owing, to.;.Ve.turn.' by, hqspitdl ship.or for v any reason,.'.a New Zealand soldier has had-to leave h|is wife behind;; .she. should make application..for her subseq'ueftfc ■ assisted'parage to', tli'c ."Doitilnion direct,- to the . High office. . The rates for ..assisted..passages' ar'o ; as;follow• .' V. ■' ;! . . .-.•'•' From -'.United.From-. • 'KingdouuEgypt.'. : -. "„■ '• .£ ' 'J'hird; cjass—Gpyern'ijient,. ... . 1 ' - contribution 16.. '. 11 ' Balance payable by 'Soldier ' 7 5 First-and second class—Government contribution ... 2G 16" Balance payable'-by' officer ''. '. : ' or .sergeant,.': iiecoVdin'if 5 -to'clasi ...v^i'.;r'29.' ;*• o< : ; •i - For-children' between-tli'rec" and- twelyt l " years of age half.'the-contributions'speci-fied are made, according -to "class. ""; ' - .Soldiers' Fiancees.^The; Defence <-'Di-' partment doe?.' not assist-- in.;re6pect to vfiassages .to the Doniinioirfor Naw/Zea-' .loiid; soldiere': fiancees,', but the 'Imigratiort; Departitient will -do .-.50.-as -far as • Applications via • this nection should be mado-to: the-Chief higration Officer, Wellington.'': Any such passages will for sbme tiino be . subject •to, accommodation requirements'\for New Zealand-troops. - t ■' ~ -Numerous requests ;-aro received-' for free or- assisted passages': from Teturned soldiers desiring, to.return to the.United .Kingdom to marry, oi" for-, other'purposes, and also fromirothers-.who aro under the impression thatrpiissageß froifl the Dominion or reduced fares- may l>e by the Defence Department." It is, : : therefore stated- "(hat ' no : ."tranispor(.s J'^main..under the. control: of- the "Depart-, inent, all New Zealand ■ troops '"returning•being carried in AdiniraltyUransporbi of overseas liners under Admiralty : ;requisi- ! lion, at passenger -rates, - as. "■'indicated above. ' The Defence,. Departments has' therefore no control over -tho accommodation, etc., of. tliese vessels-.during'.'the ~return voyage, from- the Dominion, andas ,no troops 'are- now-being-dispatched from New Zealand-.-has 110 facilities for employing returned ■ soldiers-.or others during the voyage.,.- The-crews: of these vessels are -engaged- by ■ the- shipowners' concerned in the'ordinary way under the slapping; regulations. It : is'. therefore 1 .necessary -for persons requiring -• sages from the Dominion (o arrange with the shipping agents' of vessels 'in -the ordinary manner,, at the current - passenger, rates; : '. . •-