SOLDIERS' FURLOUGH.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16729, 12 January 1920, Page 6

SOLDIERS' FURLOUGH.

LEAVE NOT IN DEMAND

It is a matter of much surpriso to those in chargo of the administration of tho Baso llecords Office that soldiers' railway privilego tickets aro not being applied for in tho numbers that worn anticipated. Every soldier on disembarkation after activo service, if his record merits it, is entitled to a warrant in cxchango for which ho may tako out a ticket and travel freo on tho whole of tho Dominion railways for a period of a month. This certificate is generally issued to tho soldier on board tho. transport prior to landing in New Zealand, |>ut is not obliged to tako tho leavo immediately upon disembarkation, but at any period to suit his own convenience.

Many returning soldiers prefer t< avail thomselvos of tlio free railway pass as soon as possiblo after their rcC V*7?. n °d beforo again settling down to civilian life, but thousands, several months ago, during tlio railway restrictions, had no such choice, and wero obliged to defer thoir leave till such time as tho railways resumed tho normal running. Tho service has now been restored to tho pro-war conditions, but thero aro many thousands of soldiers' permits that have not yet been made use of.

Commenting on this fact on Friday, Lieutenant-Co onel J. G. Jtoach, D4S.O . Director of llase Hecords, said that «wt St , B<>v l ora l months during soldiers who had not taken their leave could avail themselves of their P riv 'leges, f or tlio warrant.' would not expire till tlie ond of Juno * 4. " tr , nv , < ' lll "« WUB forbidden ow in K to tlio coal shortage, it was antir £», r , w< ? uld 1,0 a general in if»' r i a on restriction Ik>j , An exceptionally large numthne < l' CrS r av< I Pf? ot Christmas V'" e therefore anticipated, hut. tlio demand was no greater than usual. The Department permitted 0000 soldiers u» travel per month, hut the applications «ere at present well below that limit, ho J h .T W 'T ' ttlo , f, ' ar " f ;i soldier being turned down" on account of ?l' ! Vi' ,!Xt css " Colonel Roach stated that there were still between tal-er () /| n ' 1 '"J 0,000 . ho,(,inrs u,lr > had not tl PI 1, aV0 ' " l ,K: (!m ' s not litiou•r( ; " x 'f ,oLt J\ rush for tickets son fining Easter holiday M -a-

I 'W h: v !"""? ,W'*ted (says tlx* ! niVi le. /l!n " n,l ,,: r,n, «>"> Hint large |nuin),(is til soldiers, bavin-' settled r"ih''.,v 0 'nil * '°ns during the L r l l | nll: ' |ls l*nod, now find tlx v 1 1 to secure holidays till the saf»iru?'.*. )w > T1,!.: ~ 'md 11 lorn ' ln tnany instance. I iwir 1 Inost - r: ," hvilv '•■Vf tfiii, honoi or k 1 P^.L"X4t? e sKhH;