SOLDIERS ON DUTY FURLOUGH

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 123, 11 February 1918, Page 4

SOLDIERS ON DUTY FURLOUGH

MATTER FOR RAILWAY WARRANTS. The fact that soldiers—some of them members of the Main Body—who return to New Zealand on duty furlough are not granted passes enabling them to travel on the New Zealand railways for three weeks, whereas soldiers who return on duty are given three weeks' privilege leave and the railway passes referred to, was brought to the attention of the Minister of Defence by a Chrietchurch "Sun , ' representative on Saturday. . Sir James Allen replied that to officers and men on duty furlough it was clearly explained, before they left the front, that as they were coming back at their own request or for private reasons, they could not come back on the same terms as officers and men on duty. Men returning on duty got their pay and a certain amount of leave, but those on'duty furlough had asked to bo allowed to come back, for family or private reasons, and had been told that under the circumstances they would bo allowed to come back, but they would have to do duty on the ship or transport bringing them to and from New Zealand. A free railway pass to their homes and for their return to the ship was granted to them. Sir James Allen added that if the soldiers on duty furlough wanted more leave they could apply for it direct to the Base Records, and if they showed ,1 good reason Base Records would refer the application to a military service board. A rumour that officers who had returned on duty furlough would have to pay their own passages back to the front was also mentioned to the Minister. Sir James Allen replied that theDepartment was not as niggardly as that. The officers would go back on duty, and would rccoivo pay from the time they returned to duty on the ship or in camp.