ONE DAY’S LEAVE

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 68, 13 December 1939, Page 8

ONE DAY’S LEAVE

Troops Engaged On Home Service GARRISON DUTIES Optional Furlough For Second Echelon Arrangements for the granting of holiday leave to soldiers on home service were announced last evening by the Minister of Defence. He said that members of mobilized units of the Territorial Force and guards and coast watching detachments were to be 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 tbe Special Force may be given leave from December 22 to January 3,” said Mr. Jones. “If, on the other hand, men desire to remain in 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 the 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.

DISTRICT FAREWELLS

Suggestion By Minister Civic authorities and other bodies wishing to give an appropriate send-off to men of their district belonging to the first echelon of the Special Military Force are asked by the Minister of Internal Affairs, Mr. Parry, to make arrangements to do so not later than December <.27. The men will enter upon leave between December 14 and December 16, and they are under orders to return to mobilization camps between December 28 and December 30. “There will no doubt be many fitting farewell gatherings to the men, promoted in the districts In which they joined up for service in the New Zealand force,” said Mr. Parry. “It will be helpful to the military authorities and to the men themselves if all gatherings are arranged to take place during the fortnight in which the soldiers will be on leave and, certainly, not later than December 27.”