FURLOUGH SCHEME

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25276, 13 July 1943, Page 4

FURLOUGH SCHEME

HOPES FOR EXTENSION STATEMENT BY MR FRASER (p.a.) Wellington, July 12. The Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, announced to-day that the Government was very pleased to welcome home a large draft of officers, men, and nurses who had been brought back to the Dominion on extended furlough. Mr Fraser said that as soon as it became evident that the campaign in North Africa was drawing to a successful close negotiations were opened with-Lieutenant-general Sir Bernard Freyberg and the United Kingdom Government for the return to the Dominion of as many members as possible of the first second, and third echelons, and their transportation to New Zealand. The Government, Mr Fraser said, was very pleased that it had been 1 possible to make- arrangements for such a large proportion of men of the first three echelons to come home. The Government had requested General Freyberg to give preference to married men. and, with the exception of some married officers, senior non-coms., and specialists, who could not all be spared at the one time, this had been done. The single men included in the draft were selected by ballot. The Kiwi Concert Party had accompanied the draft for the entertainment of the troops. When members of this celebrated party had had a short period of leave they would reassemble and tour New Zealand, giving public concerts the proceeds of which would igo to the national patriotic funds. It had also been possible to arrange for a number of officers and men who had ties in the United Kingdom and Australia to spend their furlough in those countries. Mr Fraser added that it was hoped that the future operations of the Second New Zealand Division and other circumstances would permit of the extension of the furlough scheme to other men with long service, particularly the remaining members of the first three echelons. Free Pass on Railways Officers and other ranks in this first furlough party were being granted extended furlough on full pay and allowances together with a free pass on the railways during the furlough period. In the case of married men (including those who might marry during furlough) the railway pass would include their wives. On the termination of the furlough the men would return to their units overseas. Mr Fraser said the Government would have liked very much to arrange, and no doubt the general public of Wellington would also have welcomed a grand parade of the whole party 'in Wellington. Very full con-

sideration was given to the proposal that such a parade should be held, but it was found that, as there were no facilities ashore for rationing and quartering such a large body of troops, and as the men could not disembark with their baggage if they were to march through the city, the time required for disembarking and re-embarking the troops, together with other factors, would have meant a delay of nearly 24 hours in dispersing the men belonging to other parts of New Zealand. In view of the fact that the men, as well as their relatives and friends, would desire that they should go to their homes with the least possible delay, it was decided not to hold a parade at Wellington but to leave a function of this nature to be held in the very near future in the cities and towns where the men reside, after they had had their family reunions. Reasons for Secrecy

Mr Fraser mentioned that, for security reasons and in the interests of the safety of the members of the draft, the ships, and their crews, it had been necessary to keep secret the movements of the party to the utmost degree. This had necessitated withholding information from the next-of-kin until very near the eve of the arrival, but he was sure those concerned would not mind this, and would be thankful that the voyage had been safely accomplished. Mr Fraser said the best possible arrangements in the circumstances had been made for the notification of the next-of-kin, and he hoped that everyone would appreciate the efforts that had been mads in this direction, and for the rapid transport of the men to their homes by the army authorities, the Post and Telegraph Department, the Railways Department, shipping companies, and many other organisations and individuals who had co-oper-ated in the task. Mr Fraser, in conclusion, said he liopcd the members of the draft, who had so well earned their respite from active campaigning, would enjoy their stay in New Zealand and that when their furlough came to an end they would rejoin their division refreshed and ready to play whatever part was allotted to them in smashing the enemy, under their great leader, General Freyberg, who, during his recent tour of the Dominion, was given such a well-deserved and overwhelming wel. come wherever he went.

The names of the Otago men and nurses who have returned to the Dominion from the Middle East will be found on page 6.