FURLOUGH FOR THE MAIN BODY

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 93, 12 January 1918, Page 8

FURLOUGH FOR THE MAIN BODY

Sir,—Termit me space in your paper to awaken a subject that has presumably been dead for some time. Some months ago a lot was said about furlough to New Zealand for the Main Body. Even tho troops heard of it, and looked forward to the date ot em-! harking. Ere long, however, they— a,; well as we—were disappointed to hear that all leave had been cancelled. Here in New Zealand we are very badly treated if we do not get all public'holidays as well as an annual holiday, but when it comes to giving our soldiers—those who arc facing death practically every minute for us—a holiday, we find it can't be done. Why? Do we forget what we owe to those boys? " Why can't we give them a well-deserved holiday ?

A certain member of Parliament; once spoke of the danger of the trip. That applies to those in France, but they occasionally get a spell £o "Blighty," which is a good holiday, away from "war," and in a decent climate. But what about those in Egypt? Don't they count? Are ya going to entirely forget them? I doubt if there are more than two hundred left in Egypt now who have not had a holiday. Would it cost very much to bring them home? They signed on for three years or for tho termination of the war, and were given to understand, at the time, that at the end of that period, if tho war stillkept going, they would have the option of discharge. It is now nearly three and a half years, and no sign of their return. If the Government realised what it is to fight in such a climate they would leave nothing undone to bring those men home at once. That is if they have any feeling of justice to those who have given so much for their country. We cannot afford to ignore those who so willingly jumped into harness at the outbreak of the war.

If I am not mistaken, the Hon. Sir James Allen once said that, if tha boys were asked abo\it- leave they would refuse. Would they ? Give them the chance, and see for yourselves. Nobody wants to see tho married men taken from their wives and children, but even if that is the alternative, it is hardly fair to ask the Main Body to stay, there any longer without a spell. Many married men left with the original Expeditionary Force. Nearly every one left a motlier. Surely that is Vis hard as leaving one's wife. Sometimes harder. Do something, and do it quickly! You might ask what right have I to write on (this subject. lam oneof five brothers who sailed with different reinforcements. One was killed, three are still there, and I was invalided home from Gallipoli and discharged.—l am, etc., W. E. CRONIN. 11 Hoy wood Terrace. . Orislchurch, January 7, 1918.