Delay in Repatriation of Middle fast Men

Manawatu Times, Volume 70, Issue 277, 23 November 1945, Page 4

Delay in Repatriation of Middle fast Men

Dislocation of Shipping Arrangements Responsible

(Per Presß Association.) WELLINGTON, Nov. 22. The Government had received ad vie. that alterations in the shipping programme had been found necessary, and ns a result the return from the Middle East of some single inen of the Ninth Reinforcement and all men of the Tenth and Eleventh Reinforcements had btfen considerably delayed, said the Minister of Defence (Hon. F. Jones) answering an urgent question by Mr. T. L. MacDonald (Mataura) in the House of Representatives this afternoon. Mr. Jones recalled that early in October he announced that the personnel of the Ninth and Tenth Reinforcements were expected to return to the Dominion by Christmas and the men of the Eleventh Reinforcement were expected to be on the water by Christmas. That announcement was based on information received from Expeditionary Force Headquarters in 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 Eighth and earlier reinforcements and some single men of the Ninth Reinforcements are about to embark in Italy and Egypt on the Mooltan and should reach New Zealand by the end of this year. Three other ships have been made available to us—the Otranto, the Dominion Monarch and the Durban Castle—and they are scheduled to leave Britain on December 6, 15, and 29 respectively and lift drafts from Italy. The Otranto is to bring the balance of the single men of the Ninth Reinforcement and some married men of the Tenth Reinforcement 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 Tenth Reinforcement, the Maori Battalion and part of the single men of the Tenth Reinforcement. The Durban Castle, due in New Zealand about the end of January, will bring the balance of the single men of the Tenth Reinforcement." Pacific Service Counted. Mr. Jones said that men who had served in the Pacific before proceeding to the Middle East had been classified according to their total service overseas and would be included in the appropriate returning drafts. He also explained that, where only portion of a reinforcement draft could be embarked, a ballot was held to determine which men should come home firs*.

As soon as each draft sailed from the Middle East, the names of the men embarked would be cabled to New Zealand and next-of-kin would be immediate! \ advised.

The Minister said it was gene impossible to release officers to r<

with their reinforcement drafts. This was mainly due to the fact that very lew officers were sent from New Zealand with the reinforcement drafts and it was necessary to retain the 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.

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 Stevens. Mr. F. W. Doidge (Tauranga): Is there any indication about the Eleventh Reinforcement arriving? Mr. Jones said there was no indication at present, but when advice was received, it would be communicated to the country. Naval and Air Personnel Mr. Jones gave the following particulars of R.N.Z.N. personnel who arc 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 55S 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 bo 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 had 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 the present shipping allocations materialised.