NEXT-OF-KIN

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 226, 12 June 1918, Page 4

NEXT-OF-KIN

ARRANGEMENTS FOR RETURNING DRAFTS. By the courtesy of the railway authorities the JMonce Department has been able to make arrangements under which next-of-kin of returned soldiers arriving by special train from. Auckland, may meet the soldiers in a reserved enclosure at Thorndon station. In tho past next-of-kin have becii issued with platform tickets, but experience has ehown that many people, owing to the restricted space on the platform, could not find their relatives in the crowd. To overcome this difficulty tho railway officials have, at tho request of the Defence Department, decided not to admit next-of-kin to tho platform, so that on the train's arrival the soldiers will form into companies according to the district to which they oro bound, and proceed to that portion of the next-of-kin enclosure' allotted to each district. Next-of-kin, or their representatives, to whom passes to admit to the reserved enclosure will be issued upon application to tho Base Records Office, aro advised to congregate nonr the notice boards showing where their kinsmen will como as soon they leave the tnin, in order that there may [be no possibility of missing them in the crowd. Special traracars kindly provided Ibv His Worship tho Mayor for those I whoso destinations aro on tho (ram line, ! and motor-cars for those resident away from the tram lines, will be waiting m Iho reserved eacloßure to take, free ot charge, soldiers and their nexl-of-kra to their homes as soon as they aro ready to leave. A space will also be provided, in the enclosure for any motor-cars coming to fetch any special soldier, pro-, vided application is made to Captain Pryor, the officer in charge of the transport arrangements, at the station yard. ■The time of arrival of all special trains' will bo notified in the newspapers and posted outside the.General Post Office, railway station, Returned Soldiers Club, Bise Records, and all newspaper offices, os is dqno when ships arrive with returned soldiers.