PASSES FOR TROOPS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26227, 10 August 1946, Page 8

PASSES FOR TROOPS

MEN FROM THE CHITRAL MINISTER’S EXPLANATION (P.A.) WELLINGTON. Aug. 9. A denial that New Zealand troops were given railway passes free of cost when they visited Britain, as stated yesterday in a report from Auckland complaining, about the treatment meted out to members of the British Army staff from the Chitral who are on leave in the Dominion, was given by the Minister of Defence, Mr Jones, tonight. He said it was not correct that members of the New Zealand forces visiting the United Kingdom hdd been provided with free railway travel by the British authorities. The railway passes granted to New Zealand troops who went to Britain from Italy and to the members of the Victory contingent during their leave in the United Kingdom had been' p?id for by the New Zealand Government. Mr Jones safd. He added that 18 British soldiers from the Chitral had remained in New Zealand and would rejoin the ship when it returned to the Dominion from Japan. A New Zealand staff had been put on the ship because this was thought desirable, and the British troops had been granted leave to stay .in New Zealand. They were allowed to stay at military establish ments free of charge when visiting places where these were located, and they were also given the benefit of the reduced railway fares that applied to our own personnel. Arrangements were also made for private hospitality in the towns they visited. >

A report received by the Minister stated that arrangements were made to make the stay of the men as pleasant as possible. The general opinion of the men seemed to be that Auckland was the place.to visit first as they had been told it was so much warmer. Plans were discussed with them and they were told that most probably they would Tiave to pay their own rail faro, but that it would be the only expense entailed. All were agreeable, and 14 of them elected to go north, the idea being to stay about two weeks and then go to New Plymouth. When the men assembled at the railway station before leaving for Auckland two of them said they had now made other arrangements, to the two officers and 10 other ranks proceeded north, where arrangements had, been made at Narrow Neck transit camp, Auckland, for them *o stay. Private hospitality in other districts was awaiting the men as soon as they cared to avail themselves of it Recently two similar staffs from the Arawa and the Tamaroa each spent six weeks in New Zealand and no complaints were received about having to pay the reduced rail fares.