RETURNING SOLDIERS

Evening Post, Volume XCV, Issue 138, 11 June 1918, Page 8

RETURNING SOLDIERS

RAILWAY STATION ARRANGE-

MENTS

FACILITIES FOR NEXT-OF-KIN.

By the courtesy of the railway authorities the Defence Department has been able to make arrangements under which next-of-kin of returned soldiers, arriving by special train from Auckland may meet the soldiers in a reserved enclosure at Thorndon Station. In the past next-of-kin have been granted platform tickets, but experience has shown that many people, owing to the restricted space on the platform, could not find their relatives in the crowd. To overcome this difficulty the railway officials have, at the request of the Defence Department, decided not to admit next-of-kin to the platform, so that on the train's arrival the soldiers will form into companies according to the district to which they are bound, and go to that portion of the next-of-kin enclosure allotted to each district. Next-of-kin, or their representatives, to'whom passes to admit to the reserved enclosure will be issued upon application to the Baso Records Ofhce, are advised to assemble near the notice boards showing where their kinsmen will come as soon as they leave the train, in order that there may be no possibility of missing them in the crowd.

Special tram cars, kindly provided by the City Corporation, through the Mayor, for those whose destinations axe on the tram lines, and motor cars for those resident away from the tram lines, will bo waiting in the reserved enclosure to take, free of charge, soldiers and their next-of-kin to their homes as soon as they are ready to leave. A space will also be provided in the enclosure for any motor cars coming £o fetch any special soldier, provided application is made to Captain Pryor, the officer in charge of the transport arrangements, at the station yard. The time of arrival of all special trains will be notified in the newspapers and posted outside the General Post Office, Railway Station, Returned Soldiers' Club, Base Records, and all newspaper offices, as is done when ships arrive with returned soldiers.