LEAVE FOR MAIN BODY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16621, 18 August 1917, Page 8

LEAVE FOR MAIN BODY.

ARRANGEMENTS IN PROGRESS.

[BY TELEGRAPH. SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.]

riN, . » , WELLINGTON. Friday. in® details of the scheme to bring a portion of the Main Body men back to New Zealand on furlough have not yet been settled. The Minister for Defence is in communication with the officer commanding the New Zealand Division. The Minister has stated already that all the Main Body men now in Egypt will be given the opportunity to come back on furlough. The number of these men probably does not exceed 150. The number of Main Body men in Franco and England is 'not believed to exceed 2500, and the Minister's proposal is that one-half of these shall have furlough this year. Some' of the men will be in hospital and others may prefer to stay at the front. It is likely also that a section of the men will prefer to have furlough in England. It is probable that considerably more than half of the men who wish to take the holiday in New Zealand will be able to get the leave. The Minister for Defence stated last night that men who had left with the Samoan force and subsequently entered a reinforcement without taking leave in New Zealand would count as members of the Main Body. The position would be different if the man took furlough after returning from, Samoa. °