SHIPS DELAYED

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 89, Issue 277, 23 November 1945, Page 4

SHIPS DELAYED

RETURN OF MIDDLE EAST MEN AFFECTED DRAFTS MAY NOT ARRIVE TILL JANUARY (P.A.) Parliament Bldgs., Nov. 22. The Government had received advice that alterations in the shipping programme had been found necessary and as a result the return from the Middle East of some single men of the 9th Reinforcements and ail the men of the 10th and 11th Reinforcements had been considerably delayed, said Mr. F. Jones, Minister of Defence, answering an urgent question by Mr. T. L. MacDonald (Opp., Mataura), in the House of Representatives this afternoon. Mr. Jones recalled that early in October he announced that personnel of the 9th and 10th Reinforcements were expected to return to the Dominion bv Christmas, and men of the 11th Reinforcements were expected to be on the water by Christmas. That announcement was based on information received from Expeditionary Force Headquarters, Italy, and the homeward movement of these drafts was, ot course, dependent on shipping arrangements then envisaged being adhered to.

"The position now is that the balance of the Bth and earlier reinforcements and some single men ot the 9th Reinforcements are about to embark In Italy and Egypt on the Mooitan and should reach New Zealand by the end of this year. Three other shins have been made available to us, the Otranto, the Dominion Monarch and Durban Castle, and they are scheduled to leave Britain on December 6, December 15 and December 29 respectively and lift drafts from Italy. The Otranto is to bring the balance of the single men of the 9th Reinforcements and some married men of the 10th Reinforcements and is due to arrive in New Zealand about the second week in January. The Dominion Monarch, which should arrive in New Zealand about the middle of January, will bring the balance of the married men of the 10th Reinforcements, the Maori Battalion and part of the single men of the 10th Reinforcements. The Durban Castle, due in New Zealand about the end of January, will bring the halance of the single men of the 10th Reinforcements.”

Mr. Jones said the men who had served in the Pacific before proceeding to the Middle East had been classified according to their total service overseas and will he included in the appropriate returning drafts. He also explained that where onlv portion of a reinforcement draft could be embarked a ballot was held to determine which men should come home first. As soon as each draft sails from the Middle East the names of the men embarked will be cabled to New Zealand and next-of-kin will immediately be advised.

The Minister said it was generally impossible to release officers to return with their reinforcement drafts. This was mainly due to the fact that very L-w officers were sent from New Zealand with the reinforcement drafts and it was necessary to retain officers for duty beyond the time they were normally due to come home. A further reason is that most officers for the occupational force for Japan have been selected from the latest reinforcements.

The Government very much regretted the changes, said Mr. Jones, but they were due solelv to altered shipping arrangements over which the New Zealand Government had no control. The Government earnestly hoped that no further dislocation In the new arrangements would occur. Representations were now being made for shipping to bring home the balance of lhe men remaining In Italy. The new shipping time-table was being communicated to the troops in Italy by Major-General Stevens. Mr. W. F. Doidge (Opp., Tauranga)t Is there any indication about the 11th Reinforcements arriving? Mr. Jones said there was no Indication at present, but when advice was received it would be communicated to the country. _ Mr. .Tones rgive the following particulars of R.N.Z.A.F. personnel who are on passage to New Zealand and expected to arrive between now and the end of January:—Five officers and 300 ratings on the Mooitan: three officers and four ratings on the Aqultannia: 59 officers and 558 ratings on lhe At heling, making a grand total o! 929 officers and ratings. Mr. Jones said 132 officers had actually embarked in the Orion but had to be disembarked when that vessel returned to port with engine trouble. It was now expected that they will sail on the Athlone Castle, sailing from Britain about the end ot this month. Although no official advice had been received, a Press message indicated that some 60 officers and 375 ratings were also leaving Britain in H.M.S. Queen toward the end of this month. Mr. Jones said the latest information regarding R.N.Z.A.F. personnel who served with the R.A.F. in Britain Is that 456 air-crew are en route to New Zealand on the Mooitan. and that approximately 1000 will be embarked by early December if present shipping allocations materialise.