INDULGENCE PASSAGES

Otago Witness, Issue 3383, 15 January 1919, Page 15

INDULGENCE PASSAGES

FOR SOLDIERS' WIVES. A LIMITED PRIVILEGE. The position in regard to indulgence passages granted on. snips returning to New Zealand from the Old Country is evidently not thoroughly understood in the dominion, the result being that a heavy -demand has Bet in for free passages for relatives of soldiers who wish to visit France, or to return from England to the dominion. There are hundreds of people who believe that indulgence passages are obtainable, but this is not the case. The privilege is necessarily limited, and is going to cost the country a large sum, as all British overseas shipping ia under the control of the Admiralty (Ministry of Shipping), to which the New Zealand Government pays a per capita rate for all persona carried'. Indulgence passages are granted only in the following oases: (a) Free passages to wives of deceased soldiers are provided by 'the Government, such being arranged by the New Zealand authorities in England or .Kgypt. (b) Assisted passages where soldiers have married abroad since proceeding on active service, or. if married previously and the wives reached the United Kingdom or Egypt up to December 31, 19iY. 'ihese passages are provided by the Defence and Immigration Departments, and are arranged by the Now Zealand authorities overseas, but are subject to accommodation requirements in connection with the demobilisation of the Expeditionary Force. Where, owing to his return by a hospital ship or for any reason, a New Zealand soldier has had to leave his wife behind, she should make application for her subsequent assisted passage to the dominion direct to the High Commissioner's Office. The rates for assisted passages are as follow: — From United From Third class — Kingdom. Egypt. Government contribution ... £l6 £lO Balance payable by soldier 7 5 First and second class— Government contribution ... 26 16 Balance payable by officer or sergeant according to class 29 21 or or 12 9 For children between three and 12 years of age half the contributions specified are made, according to class. The Defence Department does not assist In respect to passages to the dominion for New Zealand soldiers' fiancees, but the Immigration Department will do so as far as practicable. Applications in this connection should be made to the Chief Immigration Officer, Wellington. Any such passages will for some time be subject to accommodation requirements for New Zealand troops. Numerous requests are received for free or assisted passages from returned Boldiers desiring to return to the United Kingdom to marry or for other purposes, and also from others who are under the impression that passages from the dominion or reduced fares, may be arranged by .the Defence Department. No transports remain under the control of the department, all returning New Zealand troops being carried in Admiralty transports or overseas liners under Admiralty requisition at passenger rates. The Defence Department has therefore no control over the accommodation, eto., of these vessels during the return voyage from the dominion, and as no troops are now being despatched from New Zealand, has no facilities for employing returned soldiers or others during the voyage. The crews of these vessels are engaged by the shipowners concerned in the ordinary way under the shipping regulations. It is therefore necessary for persons requiring passages from the dominion to arrange with the shipping agents cf vossels in the ordinary manner, at the ourrent passenger rates.