MEN FROM PACIFIC

Greymouth Evening Star, 16 May 1944, Page 4

MEN FROM PACIFIC

MINISTER’S WELCOME AUCKLAND, May 15. Two drafts of soldiers from the 3rd Division, 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force in the Pacific, have returned to New Zealand for disposal to essential industry. One draft was given an official welcome to-day at Papakura camp, and the other will receive a similar welcome to-morrow. The Minister of Rehabilitation (Mr Skinner) represented the Government. With the exception of a small number of men classified as sick and wounded, the returned drafts will be given 28 days’ leave on full pay so soon as the necessary administration details have been completed. At the end of that time they will be placed on indefinite leave without pay. The Minister told the draft he addressed to-day that they had done a magnificent job on active service, and they should feel no indignity at the job now before them, as it was of vital importance. They, had sufficient experience as soldiers to understand that fighting men could not function efficiently unless there was a big, willing, and hard-working team behind them to supply their needs. They were now to take their place in that team. As far as possible their nominations for the types of work which they desired to enter woud be followed by the authorities.