WEEK-END LEAVE TO CEASE

Southland Times, Issue 24864, 2 October 1942, Page 4

WEEK-END LEAVE TO CEASE

Furlough For Troops Instead (P.A.) GISBORNE, October 1. An alteration in the. leave granted to troops to eliminate weekends off for travel was announced today by the Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. Jones. The Minister announced that in view of restricted travelling facilities and the urgent necessity for conserving petrol, coal and tyres, the War Cabinet had decided to review the leave privileges granted to soldiers.

In the past, he said, furlough of seven days every four months and week-end leave to enable a soldier to have 24 hours at home approximately once a month had been granted. This furlough and week-end leave, especially the latter, had placed a heavy load on the railway system and the interisland ferry services. Because of the restricted services week-end leave had resulted in many men being absent from their units for as much as six days and had seriously interfered with the training and efficiency of units. “The War Cabinet has therefore decided in the national interests to commute furlough and long week-end leave into 10 days’ furlough plus the time necessary to travel to homes and return to camp,” Mr Jones said. “This extended furlough will result in a very

large saving in travelling and obviate frequent absences of men from their units as in the past. Free travelling warrants will be provided for men proceeding on furlough. In addition to furlough, the existing provisions for granting leave in the case of bereavement, the confinement of a wife, to attend to urgent domestic and business affairs and to prepare for and sit examinations will be continued, and during week-ends, except when field training is in .progress, liberal leave will be given to troops on Saturdays and Sundays.” Mr Jones explained that furlough is not granted to men in units and reinforcement drafts being organized and trained for service overseas, but final leave, with free travelling warrants, was provided.