HOME FROM WAR

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 89, Issue 96, 24 April 1945, Page 5

HOME FROM WAR

1600 MEMBERS OF N.Z.E.F. IN AUCKLAND (P.A.) Auckland, April 23. Four days after they first sighted the North Cape of New Zealand, near- [ ly 1600 members of the 2nd. N.Z.E.F. j returning under the replacement b scheme after long service in the Mid-' die East, were welcomed home in Auckland this morning. Nearly all ■ were for the Auckland province, and j they were given a vociferous welcome < at the wharf. Delav in their arrival was the cause I of endless rr.mours in the city till an | announcement was made by the act- | ing-Prime Minister over the radio [ vesterdav that it was due to the death 1 on board of one member of the draft > from a highlv contagious disease. The j man. who was in isolation from the ■, time he was placed aboard, though the disease had not then been correctly diagnosed, had no contact with other members of the draft and the shin was ' given a clean bill of health at an Aus- [ tralian port which she touched. To ( make doubly sure, the New Zealand authorities placed a medical team aboard last Thursday, when lhe ship was off Cape Brett, and it is stated that the inspection was the most thorough the mon had ever experienced. Every person in the shin was medically examined, and where the slightest blood disturbance was found, the case was hold over for a second and even more thorough examination. The troopship actually anchored in Rangitoto Channel on Saturday afternoon, and a skin specialist boarded her yesterday. After his examination the ship was given a completely clean report. Though it was tantalising for the returning soldiers, W.A.A.C.S. and nurses to be so close that some could see homos on North Shore, all accepted the situation well. Some of the men stated that the dav and a-half spent in the Raneitoto Channel wailing for . Ihe shin's clearance seemed to be the longest hours of lhe war. “Wo wore getting a hit fed un. but it was all in a good eauso,” said one ma n. A ponular diversion was fishing, the men using cords from hammocks and ' making their own hooks from wire, i The mon were welcomed on behalf [ of the Government by the Education Minister. Mr. H. G. R. Mason who referred to the efforts made in New Zealand towerds rehabilitation. When Air. R. G. Mason, secretary of the R.S.A., bearded the troonshin he i wns handed £24 9s 6d, representing a j | collect ion taken on board in connection with the Poppy Day appeal.