MEN FROM MALAYA

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23319, 1 October 1945, Page 4

MEN FROM MALAYA

Air Transport To Wigram (N.Z.P.A.) AUCKLAND. Sept. 30. A regular air service between Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch to transport returning servicemen to their homes is to be inaugurated to-morrow. In this way it is hoped to overcome “the bottleneck" which has developed recently through the diversion of the inter-island steamer Wahine for transporting troops from the Pacific. Three planes will leave Whenuapai every morning for Wigram aerodrome, Christchurch. One aircraft will proceed direct, the other two travelling via Paraparaumu. The three planes will make the return journey every evening from Wigram, one plane again coming direct to Whenuapai. Transport will be arranged between Auckland and Whenuapai, Paraparaumu and Wellington and Wigram and Christchurch. The planes used will be C 47 S Douglas Dakotas, about 90 passengers being carried daily each way. It is anticipated that the new service will be continued until the Wahine resumes her usual running. The air service will be confined to the transport of repatriated personnel of the three Armed Forces. Other servicemen and service women will be carried as usual by rail. It is therefore not expected that pressure on railway travelling will be eased to any extent.

A further draft of 16 New Zealand prisoners of war from the East arrived by Dakota aircraft at Whenuapai today. The party consisted of seven members of the Air Force, five of the Navy and four civilians who had served with the volunteer forces against the Japanese. The following arrived: Air Force—Flying Officers H. J. Allard (Christchurch), D. C. Duff (Dunedin), A. W. Phillips (Dannevirke), E. D. Rex (Wellington), J. T. Tosswill (Remuera), W. P. Wellington (Dunedin), Warrant Officer N. G. Packard (Nelson).

Navy—Lieutenant R. T. Arkley (Wellington), Signallers W. J. Aspden (Auckland), G. G. Chennells (Lower Hutt). J. G. Evans (Nelson), Midshipman R. J. Rae (Christchurch). Civilian Volunteer Forces —Private W. M. Groves (Wellington), Private R. W. L. McCall (Remuera), Sergeant L. H. Macdonald ' (Tauranga) and Sergeant B. M. Somes (Wellington.