WIVES IN GREAT BRITAIN.

Otago Witness, Issue 3335, 13 February 1918, Page 53

WIVES IN GREAT BRITAIN.

2000 AUSTRALIANS MARRY; SYDNEY, February 1. The Premier (Mr Holman) has received a letter from the Agent-general (Sir Charles Wade), in which ho states: "A somewhat novel development lias taken place with regard to Australian soldiers who marry English women while on service, and Jare anxious for some concession to be made in the passage money of their wives on the journey to Australia. Under tho provision for nominating immigrants, any resident of New South Wales.may, under certain conditions, nominate a person in Great Britain who will receive the benefit of a reduction ■in the passage rato on errfgrating to the State, .and it is sought bv these soldiers who have married to bring their wives under the operation of this scheme. The ••immigration officer, however, has applied these provisions in favour of certain soldiers who have asked for the'concession, but, as the question is likely to grow, the Agentgeneral seeks official confirmation to this extension of the immigration policy. I am informed that already some 2000 Australians have married women in the United Kingdom, and recently theso marriages have taken place at tho rate of 800 per month." Mr Holman has cabled to Sir Charles ■Wade stating that tho benefit of assisted passages may bo extended to the wives of soldiers marrying in Great Britain, as suggested.