OFFICIAL SILENCE

New Zealand Herald, Volume 82, Issue 25396, 28 December 1945, Page 4

OFFICIAL SILENCE

NEW ZEALAND OOVKUNMENT BRIGADE TRAINS IN ITALY The announcement Irom Melbourne of the composition ol the British Commonwealth lorce lor the occupation ol Japan, with its mention of the New Zealand brigade and an It.X.Z.A.I'. squadron, recalls the lact that no official .statement has yet been made by the .New Zealand Government. Although it is common knowledge that a New Zealand brigade IW Japan is undergoing intensive training in Italy and that a Corsair squadron has been assembled at Ardmore. the Government has yet to state definitely that the force will go to Japan and when it will leave.

The original announcement by the Prime Minister, Mr I'Yaser, in the House of Representatives in October was ''if a British Commonwealth force is to go to Japan. New Zealand will be represented by a brigade group." .In spite of insistent inquiries there has been no further official announcement. There seems to be little doubt that the brigade in Italy and the K.X.Z.A.F. squadron in New Zealand will go to Japan. The officer commanding the brigade, Brigadier R. L. Stewart, C.8.E., D.5.0., left the Dominion by air for Italy on October 26, and appointments have been made recently of New Zealand journalists to operate a service newspaper in Japan for the brigade. It is also learned that the brigade is undergoing most intensive training in Italy, particularly in parade ground and formal drill movements, which are being supervised by non-com-missioned officers of the Coldstream Guards.

The original iitt• ■ 111i<>11 was that (he brigade .should leave Italy lor Japan in .November, hut shipping difficulties resulted in a postponement of the sailing date, it was then thought that the brigade would sail some time this month, hut so far no word of their embarkation has been received. There seems to be some doubt, however, as to whether it will be necessary to call for volunteers in New Zealand for a, replacement force to relieve the brigade at the end of six months. When he made his original announcement, .Mr Fraser said that volunteers would be called for "at an early date," but no appeal has yet been made. The garrisoning of Japan is an international question and the final decision is fiot for the New Zealand Government alone. Nevertheless some clear statement, both about the brigade and the squadron and the suggested call for volunteers for n relief force, can scarcely he delayed much longer.

REOPENING OF SHOPS

NO LATE FRIDAY NIGHT Grocers, butchers and bakers which had been closed since Monday reopened in the city and suburbs yesterday morning, when there was a heavy demand for food stocks, which had been depleted over the holidays. Drapers and footwear shops opened yesterday and will be open today until' 0.-'iO p.m. There will be no late night in the city and suburbs today, as retailers have already observed the one late night they are permitted each week. Suburban retailers, following a recent decision, will in future close on Friday nights and open on Saturday mornings, Fruiterers, dairies and chemists were open yesterday and will be open today. The majority of tobacconists did not open yesterday. Itanks were closed yesterday, but will open this morning. ROTORUA MAILS INCREASE (0.C.) ROTORUA, Thursday A. substantial increase in Christinas mails and telegrams at Hotorua is shown in this year's returns. On Christmas Eve 31)60 telegraphic messages -vero forwarded, received or transmitted, compared with 2098 in 19*1*1 and 2198 last year. The number of bags of mail and parcels handled from December 18 to 24 was 1583, or 85 more than in 1944. INJURED IN FALLS When he slipped and fell in Parnell Road yesterday afternoon, a fractured left hip was suffered by Mr Henry Davenport, aged 48, single, /of Glen Road, Stanley Ray. He was admitted to the Auckland Hospital. Striking her head on a kerb when she fell yesterday morning, concussion was suffered by Miss Doreen \vonne Warden, aged 18, daughter of Mrs S. J. Warden, of Massey Road, Mangere. She was admitted to the Auckland Hospital. As the result of a fall from a bicycle yesterday morning, Francis Keith Cunningham, aged I t, of Randolph Street. Newton, was admitted to the Auckland Hospital suffering from concussion and abrasions to the face.