DEPARTMENTATION

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 46, 19 November 1918, Page 6

DEPARTMENTATION

Sir,—Humour- cc.nnot be 'said to bs a 6trong point with tha Defence Department even now when the strain of war is to a certain extent relaxed, but some credit may bo gjven it for the latest effort as exhibited in the proposal that officers should bo sent by. each departing homeward bound ship, who may come out with the returning soldier?, and bo useful to them in the way of reintroduciiif? them to their new avocations. Suppose three or four—Staff, of course—start immediately, so as to accompany the first draft from England in,, say, two months' time. It would not necessarily bo any tax on their time going, apart from shuffle-board, deck quoits, and bridge. They might, no doubt, be Tending up the scales of pensions, retiring allowances,; and schemes for repatriation. They woaljJ be back here in five months, and have another "go" before the last of- the returning drafts was due to leave England.; But probably not more tlinii two original missions could be reckoned on- to leave New Zealand again. As it is said that the evacuation iyny be .accomplished in eight" or nine months, it is clear that a succession of missions would have to be dispatched, say, ono with every outgoing -'hip, or an average of three a month for the next half-year. This would absorb some' hundred and twenty or one hundred and fifty Stnff Officers. " Tho duties of these officers 011 their return voyages are explained to be ! tho giving of information as to allowances, facilities for settling down, aud such other advice as men who had been away for two or three years may be supposed to be anxious to know about from people fresli from tho Dominion. But it lis not to be surmised that the instructors would not abide by the schedules or have information that is not in the hand-books, so that a knowledge of parlour games an 1 a turn for evening entertainment should be considered indispensable qualifications for those selected to act as a new brand of Cook tourists' guides. Joking apart, this latest—but, .let us hope, not file lost—effort at- humour can scarcely bo considered a success. The brass-hats should try again. —I am, etc., ' PUNCHINELLO. November IG.