FINAL LEAVE-TAKINGS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2838, 1 August 1916, Page 6

FINAL LEAVE-TAKINGS

SOLDIERS. AND NEXT-OF-KIN

ARRANGEMENTS CRITICISED The inadequacy of the arrangements made at the Wellington wharves for the final leave-takings between soldiers and their relatives on the occasion of the departure of transports, which was referred to in yesterday's , Dominion was brought up in the House last evening by Mr. H. Poland. He said that he had made a complaint regarding this matter two months agu, but the cause for complaint had not been removed. ■ He referred to what occurred on the occasion of tho departure of a transport two months ago, when, he said, insufficient time for leave-takings and tho delivery of parcels was allowed. Ho thought that .more time should be allowed, and that in order to ensure this the street parades should bo discontinued. The parades looked very well, but they were of no use either to, the men or their relatives. The Minister of Defence said that it was difficultrto make arrangements satisfactory to everybody. The aim of the Department was to ensure that all the soldiers were placed on board, but on most occasions some men had been left behind. As to parcels, there was. a special depot where they could be left, and the Department guaranteed that if they were left at the depot they would be placed on board. Mr. Poland: The relatives like to personally hand them over. . ' Mr. Allen: I know they do, but the difficulty is that some public men will not play the game. A special enclosure for the next-of-kin is provided, but many people rush this enclosure. I do not think it would bo wise to discontinue the parades, which are of value from a recruiting point of view. I will have inquiries made regarding the arrangements for the departure of the last transport. , '