THE REPATRIATION DEPARTMENT.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16426, 21 January 1919, Page 6

THE REPATRIATION DEPARTMENT.

VIEWS OF RETURNED SOLDIERS' ASSOCIATION. (PRESS ASSOCIATION TEUEGBAM.) WELLINGTON, January 20. Interviewed on the subject of repatriation, Mr C. W. Battou, president \ of tho New Zealand ltoUirned boldierß' Association, said that Deroro he had agreed to act as repatriation officer for Wellington, he h/id conßulted the local sub-committee and the Dominion executive. The members were strongly in favour of his acceptance of the position. Ihe sub-com-mittee passed the following motion. "That this executive sub-committee or the New Zealand .Returned Soldiers* Association, while disagreeing wicn the methods of establishment and trie constitution of the Repatriation Department and the method of appointment to the position of director, realises the urgency and importance ut this work. The Association will therefore give its whole-hearted support to the work of the Department. At the same time tho Association lacks confidence in the Department as at present constituted, and will make every endeavour to carry, into effect the protests already rocorded by tho Returned Soldiers' Association and other bodies." Tho Riccarton Borough Council last nif'ht received a letter from the Wariganui Borough Council subnuttwg a copy of the following resolution which had been passed by the branch of the South African Veterans Association, in reference to the tion of soldiers :-"That in view of the early repatriation of our soldiers, tins Association urges upon tho Govern tho necessity of timely steps to ensure their proper transport, in order that such regrettable occurrences as that oi tho troopship Britannic at the end or the South Alrican war may be avoided, and that, in particular, overcrowding of transports be strictly guarded against, notwithstanding any extra expense sueu a policy may entail." A motion to endorse tho resolution was agreed to, v>r. Wise alone dissenting, on the grounds that thero had been no complaints here as to overcrowding, etc.