RETURNING SOLDIERS

Evening Star, Issue 17036, 6 May 1919, Page 2

RETURNING SOLDIERS

THE■RE-MUERA'S MEN. [Per United Press Association.] AUCKLAND; May 5. Tho transport' Re.muera arrived early ihis morning • with 30 officers, 9 nurses, 434 non-commissioned officers and men, 104 wives, and 58 children. Thirty-four K.A.F. men who left New Zealand shortly before the armistice was sighed, and received their commission in England, also returned, together with' seven naval ratingsj and besides these there are 14 Imperial officers who are included in tho ship's roll, with 250 civilian passengers. The ship received the usual enthusiastic welcome, a seaplane dropping messages of welcome and confetti aboard as she steamed up the harbor. The Remueru, left Plymouth on March 17, and the voyage was without incident. Coming across tho Atlantic the boat tan into a°very heavy storm, and had a life boat swept away" while she was lying-to for 56 hours. After that the weather was al'l that could be desired, and at three ports of call the troops were given a great reception. For three days the townspeople of Newport News entertained them lavishly. During their stay at Jamaica all ranks "were wekomed and refreshed at Hope Gardens, while the officers were received at Liguiana Military and Naval Ofiieers' Club. At Colon they stayed only one night before coming through the Panama Canal, and a brief halt was made at Pitcairn Island to hand out papers, literature, and writing materials, 'also a gram.phoue presented" by the Y.M.C.A. to the inhabitants. THE KIA OKA. (TIRISTCHURCH, May 5. It is probable that the Kia Ora, with 979 troops on board, which is due to arrive at Lvtieltoii at daylight on Wednesday, will'have to go into quarantine for at "least 24 hours. Advice has been received of at least one case of influenza on board. As it is, the vessel is late, it having previously been announced that she wouh° arrive at Lvttelton by midday on Tuesday. At the * earliest now the .men are not likely to reach the city before Thursday morning. There are 450 men for Otago, who will leave by special train. THE QUESTION OF REPATRIATION. AUCKLAND, May 5. The question of repatriation was discussed to-dav by Brigadier-general G. S. Richardson, who'arrived by the Remuera. He said Ihe whole country, should unite in putting the men back into their old positions, just as it did to send them away to tight. The men did not want to be spoon-fed, nor did they require anything to which they were not entitled; but it was essential that they be provided with the necessary opportunities of citizenship. Thev must "have them. Before he left England he held a meeting of 200 permanently disabled men. and he was deeply impressed at the keen interest they displayed in their- future careers. Apparently their one desire was that they be afforded opportunities in New Zealand to take up work suitable to their physical condition. The seriousness of the problem facing the country would be appreciated uheii it was realised '.hat wo had been sending men away for four and a-halt years, and we were now required as a duty to restore them to their former status in as many months. That "psychology is one of the most important factors to be considered in connection with the repatriation of soldiers is the opinion held by Major J. G. Coales. M.r. for Kaipara, "who, after three years on active service, was delegated by General Sir A Russell to return to the Dominion in connection with > the'Tepatriatiuii of soldiers. He arrived by the Remuera today. The. men had been out of touch with the ordinary life for such a length of time, he said, and had been treated differently, and had been brought into touch with such conditions as to completely alter their persoeetive. Propaganda and education were going to be necessary, as also would be'unlimited patience, but ultimately the soldier would be a better man than before. .