TRANSPORT SHORTAGE

Greymouth Evening Star, 4 October 1945, Page 3

TRANSPORT SHORTAGE

N.Z. PLANS CANCELLED. .(N.Z.I’.A. Special Correspondent) (Rec. 9.5 a.m.) LONDON. October 3. An instance of the causes which result in some New Zealanders having an uncomfortable voyage home from England is the sudden cancellation of accommodation for nearly 500 R.N.Z.N.V.R. personnel in the Orontes, which was to have sailed on October 9. Plans for the repatriation of naval personnel were announced only after the end of the Japanese war. Their return to the Dominion for demobilisation depends entirely on the rate of release from the Royal Navy. This is being expedited by the New Zealand Naval Affairs Officer in London, Mr. S. R. Skinner. The fact that 500 R.N.Z.N.V.R. personnel, comprised roughly of 100 officers and 400 men, were ready for sailing home within a comparatively short time since V.J. Day indicates that no time is being lost. But the abrupt cancellation of the ship, reserved for them and the impossibility of indicating at present when they will sail not only delays the date of their demobilisation, but also adds to the congestion, of the men already waiting to sail. It also helps to explain the conditions in the ships to which the men are drafted at short notice. The necessity to implement the Government request to repatriate ali New Zealand service personnel as soon, as possible has been complied with to the fullest extent of • the available shipping space by various service headquarters. New Zealand, in common with all the United Nations, has been given a fair allocation of vessels required for worldwide movement of forces following the end of hostilities, but the shortage makes long-term planning diffiThe earliest indication of the uncertainty of the shipping programme occurred last, month when the R.N.Z.A.F. was given a fortnight to assemble 1500 for the liner Andes, now New Zealand-bound.. This was the biggest draft ever moved by the R.N.Z.A.F. in any theatre. .While many personnel were inconvenienced at being embarked at such short notice it has since become evident that the” size of the draft has prevented very substantial delays in further repatriations occurring in the next few months. The high figure of 75i> per cent, officers in the aircrew, unique in the services, necessarily meant that it has not always been possible to allot accommodation to which the personnel are normally entitled, as the troopers are not designed to carry such a large proportion of officers. Accommodation, m fact, became a major problem, so much so that a recent order for all British services authorised troopdeck travel if necessary for all junior officers. ‘ At the moment there are another 500*R.N.Z.A.F. personnel ready to sail for New Zealand immediately a ship is allotted to them.