PLANS FOR FORTNIGHT IN OLD COUNTRY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 89, Issue 226, 24 September 1945, Page 4

PLANS FOR FORTNIGHT IN OLD COUNTRY

(P.A.) Wellington, Sept. 23. The Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. Jones, announced that the Government had approved proposals submitted by General Freyberg for a leave scheme under which members of the 2nd. N.Z.E.F. waiting to return to New Zealand will visit the United Kingdom. Parties will travel overland from Italy through France in divisional motor transport to a Channel port, and on arrival in England by Channel ferries will first go to reception group camps, which were established for our repatriated prisoners of war. From the camps they will be granted two weeks’ leave on pay and subsistence allowance, with a free railway pass to proceed to any part of the British Isles to visit relatives, friends, business connections or places of interest. Arrangements will also be made for the men to draw reasonable advances of pay prior to going on leave.

The New Zealand Clubs in London are also making all necessary preparations to cater for the influx of large numbers of men who will visit London. When leave expires the men will return to the reception group camps, cross the Channel and return to Italy in divisional motor transport preparatory to embarking for New Zealand.

Mr. Jones said he wished to emphasise that the leave scheme would not in any way interfere with the return of the men to New Zealand. Ships are being allotted by the Ministry of Transport on a monthly basis and the men are being given priority for the homeward voyage according Io their length of service overseas. The main purpose of the scheme is to relieve the monotony being experienced by the men while waiting for ships to bring them to New Zealand, and he felt certain that the men would greatly appreciate the break and opportunity of seeing the Old Country. Since VE-Day the Government has done everything possible to get the requisite shipping to bring our men home as quickly as possible and is watching the position closely with the object of accelerating their return. Up tp the present priority has been given to getting our repatriated prisoners of war home, and now that nearly all these men have been provided for it 's hoped it will be possible to /‘step up” the return of the men from