RETURN OF TROOPS

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 259, 29 July 1941, Page 2

RETURN OF TROOPS

Better Welcoming Plan

Wanted

To show how difficult it was to

make contact with, sick and wounded men returned from overseas, instances

of good intentions not fulfilled were given by some members of the Wellington Provincial Patriotic Council at a recent meeting. A complaint was that, for those who were concerned with providing for the needs of the men, the notice of their arrival was too short and inadequate. In some cases no notice was received.

Messrs. H. Keesing, Wanganui, and, A. E. Mansford, Palmerston North, related experiences in their centres. Trains on which returning men were expected had been met, but no soldiers were to be found. In one case the train had arrived when the notice regarding a soldier travelling by it was received from Wellington. Mr. Mansford said that if the authorities could put men on the train in Wellington they could also send notifications to the centres to which the men were travelling. No word had been received regarding the most recent arrivals.. Something should go from this meeting to the Minister, asking that better arrangements should be made for notifying centres of the trains by which the returning men were due. He did not think that it was the Jlinister who was responsible, but something should be done to have the matter rectified.

Though agreeing that the suggestion was quite good, Mr. S. Blackley, Upper Hutt, that‘some of the men did not want to be seen at the time for the purpose under notice. They had their relatives eager to meet them, but the cases where men had no relatives required attention. It was explained by Jlr. Ward, M.L.C., that, with the recent arrival of sick and wounded, there were many voluntary workers all endeavouring to do their best. There was so much rush and excitement, however, that it made things very difficult. He was taking up with those concerned the matter of improving the position regarding notifications of arrivals. Replying to a suggestion that a visiting committee might be set up in Wellington, Jlr. J. W. Andrews, Lower Hutt, said that the arrangements already provided for representatives to meet the returning troops. Jlr. E. C. Hale described the procedure adopted by the U.S.A. The names of returning servicemen were sent to the various affiliated bodies of • the N.Z.U.S.A, and, where possible, . Hie approximate time of arrival of 1 the men at the different centres was given. The men themselves were supplied with information on various matters relating to their welfare. This . was done after their return to the cell- j tres, as it was felt that the men did not want too much of that detail at the "clearing house.”