HOMECOMING DELAYED

Greymouth Evening Star, 23 November 1945, Page 2

HOMECOMING DELAYED

MEN IN MIDDLE EAST SHIPPING SHORTAGE BLAMED WELLINGTON, November 22. The Government had received advice that alterations in the shipping programme had been found necessary, and as a result the return from the Middle East of some single men of the 9th Reinforcements and all men of the 10th and 11th Reinforcements had been considerably delayed, said-the Minister of Defence (Mr. Jones), answering an urgent question by Mr. Macdonald (Opposition, Mataura) in the House of Representatives this afternoon. '. Mr. Jdnes recalled that early in October he announced that personnel of the 9th and 10th Reinforcements were expected to return to the Dominion by Christmas, and men of the 11th Reinforcements were expected to be on the water by Christmas. That announcement was based on information received from Expeditionary Force Headquarters, Italy, and the homeward movement of these drafts was, of course, dependent on the shipping arrangements then envisaged being adhered to. ' “The position now is that the balance of the Bth and earlier reinforcements and some single men of the 9th Reinforcements are about to embark in Italy and Egypt on the Mooltari and should reach New Zealand by the end of this year. Three other ships have been made available to us, the Otranto, Dominion Monarch, and Durban Castle, and they are scheduled to leave Britain on December 6, December 15, and December 29 respectively and lift drafts from Italy. The Otranto is to bring the balance of the single men of the 9th Reinforcements and some married men of the 10th Reinforcements and is due to arrive in New Zealand about the second week in January. The Dominion Monarch, which should arrive in New Zealand about the middle of January, will bring the balance of the married men of the 10th Reinforcements, the Maori Battalion, and part of the single men of the 10th Reinforcements. The Durban Castle, due in New Zealand about the end of January, will bring the balance of the single men of the 10ch Reinforcements.” Mr. Jones said men who had served in the Pacific before proceeding to the Middle East had been clashed according to their total service overseas and would be • included in the appropriate returning drafts. He also explained that where only a portion of a reinforcement draft could be embarked a ballot was held to determine which men should come home first. As soon as each diaft sailed from the Middle East the names of the men embarked would be cabled to New Zealand, and next-of-kin would immediately be advised. The Minister said it was generally impossible to release officers to return with their reinforcement drafts. This was mainly because very few officers were sent from New Zealand with reinforcement, drafts, and it was necessary to retain officers for duty beyond the time they were normally due to ' come home. A further reason was that most officers for the occupational force for Japan had been selected from the latest reinforcements. GOVERNMENT'S REGRET. Mr. Jones said the Government very much regretted the changes, but they were due solely to the altered shipping arrangements, over which the New Zealand Government had no control. The Government earnestly hoped that no further dislocation in the new arrangements would occur. Representations were now being made for shipping to bring home the balance of the men remaining in Italy. The new shipping timetable was being communicated to the troops in Italy by Major-General W. G. Stevens-. Mr. Doidge (Opposition, fauranga): Is there any indication about the" I.lth Reinforcements arriving?. Mr. Jones said there was no indication at present, but when advice was received it would be communicated to the country. Mr. Jones gave the following par-, ticulars of naval personnel who are on passage to New Zealand and are expected to arrive between now and the end of January: Five officers and 300 ratings on the Mooltan; three officers and four ratings on the Aquitania; 59 officers and 558 ratings on the Atheling, making a grand total of 929 officers and ratings. Mr. Jones said 132 officers actually embarked in the Orion, but had to be disembarked when that vessel returned to port with engine trouble. It was now expected that they would sail on the Athlone Castle, sailing from Britain about the end of this month. Although no official advice had been received, a Press message indicated that some 60 officers and 375 ratings were also leaving Britain in H.M.S. Queen toward the end of this month. Mr. Jones said the latest information regarding R.N.Z.A.F. personnel who served with the R.A.F. in Britain was that 456 aircrew were en route to New Zealand on the Mooltan, and that approximately 1000 would be embarked by early December if present shipping allocations materialised. GENERAL FREYBERG. (N.Z.P.A. Special Correspondent.) (Rec. 10.35 a.m.) LONDON, November 22. General Freyberg returned to Eng J land where he expects to remain until he sails with Lady Freyberg for New Zealand next year. . ' He attended a reception given by the Royiil Empire Society for Marshal Alexander, Governor General designate of Canada. Marshal Alexander <*ave a special welcome to “my old friend, Freyberg, and his magnificent Nevz Zealanders, who started in the Mediterranean in 1941, and came through with us to the Austrian frontier.”