RETURNING N.Z.E.F. MEN

Grey River Argus, 20 July 1945, Page 5

RETURNING N.Z.E.F. MEN

RECEPTION OF DRAFTS Arrangements Outlined WELLINGTON, July 19. Arrangements for the reception of returning drafts of fit personnel of the Second N.Z.E.F. and for their movement to their homes, were explained by the Minister of Defence, Hon F. Jones, in a statement issued to-day. The Minister said that it was the aim of the Army that the men should be transported to their homes as quickly as possible. Steps taken by-the Army would vary according to the size of the draft, the route taken in the journey to New Zealand, and the port of disembarkation, said' Mr Jones. If the ship called at an Australian port it was usual to send to Australia a party which, during the final stages of the voyage, would complete the organisation for disembarkation, so that, as soon as a ship berthed, ■ the troops were ready to start the journey home. If a ship did not call at an Australian port, the normal procedure was forAhe men to pass through a wharf shea, which meant an unavoidable increase in the time taken to handle the draft. The order in which the men disembarked was dependent on the connections with the train and steamer ferry services, but when possible, local men were disembarked first. Mr Jones said that until Japan was defeated it was not possible, for sceurity reasons, to give the next-of-kin notice of the exact day and the time of arrival of a draft. The Army sympathised with the natural desire of the next-of-kin to meet drafts when they reached New-»Zealand, but, as no information'could be given in advance, the relatives could have only rumour to guide them, and they might be completely misled. They were advised, therefore, not to try to make their way to rumoured ports of arrival. Further, where special troops trains were arranged, no. provision could be made on them for civilians. Other men travelled direct bv motor transport, from the ship’s sides. Relatives might miss seeing their men at the port, but they might not be at their homes to welcome men when they reached them. The arrangements made to delivei’ each soldier to his home included the arranging of meals, and transport schedules had to be carefully worked out. Unless all of the troops travelled by the means provided, a delay in providing facilities at a later date might be unavoidable, and men who failed to take advantage of the means of transport provided might lose some of their leave through failing to report for their medical boarding on the arranged date. The Minister added that, if persons other than those whose presence was required were admitted to wharves, the arrangements would be seriously delayed at each port of disembarkation. The Army provided for local next-of-kin to meet their men as soon as they left the wharf, and for motor transport to take men and their relatives to their homes. A similar arrangement was made at all of the detraining stations. Official welcomes were short, to prevent any delay in returning the men to their homes.