RETURNING SOLDIERS.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16164, 19 March 1918, Page 6

RETURNING SOLDIERS.

ADVICE TO RELATIVES. A large batch of returned soldiers is to arrive at Lyttelton this morning. The men left Wellington by a special transport last evening, and the vessel is due to arrive at Lyttelton between 9 and 10 this morning. As there are maoiy military and other formalities to be observed at the tlic Defeiico Departmont has expressed the wish that relatives, to save congestion and consequent disabilities, vfcll not endeavour to meet thoir "boys" at Lyttelton, but will do so on the Christchurch railway station instead. As several hundred people are involved, tho necessity for this request needs littlo explanation. No one except the officials will be allowed on the wharves at Lyttelton. A spocia! train will convey all the men to Cliristchurch, where they will be met l>y members of the Automobile Association at the southern platform, where tho train will draw up. This train is due at Cliristchurch at about midday. Nearest relatives will Lo admitted to tho Cliristchurch railway station on production of their notices. All tho Otago and South Canterbury men will leave for their destinations by special train. Colonel R. A. Cliaffev stated to a "Press" reporter last night that in the interests of all concerned, it had been found necessary to exclude the public from the Lyttelton wharves this morning. ' 'There are 700 men coming back," ho said, "and fivo hundred of these have to board a special train for the south, three hundred being for Dunedin. We want to get the train away as soon as possible, and if the 1000 or 1200 relatives and friends set mixed up with the men at the port it will bo a rather hopeless task." (PRESS ASSOCIATION' TELEGRAM.) WELLINGTON, March 18. Transports 95 and 96, with tho Wellington, Canterbury, and Otago men, in drafts 147, 148, and 149, arrived this afternoon. The South Island men left this evening by one of tho transports.

"WHOLLY INADEQUATE ARRANGEMENTS." A WELLINGTON PROTEST. (press association telegram.) WELLINGTON v March 18. At a meeting of tho Wellington Industrial Association to-night, protest was made by several speakers against the lack of organisation for the meeting of returned eick and wounded soldiors. Tho following resolution was carried: —"That a letter of strong protestv\b° forwarded the Minister of Defence against the wholly inadequate arrangements which continue in regard to the meeting of returned soldiers on their arrival and tho conveyance of them to their homos."