RETURNING DRAFTS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 103, 25 January 1919, Page 8

RETURNING DRAFTS

EARLIER NEWS POSSIBLE

THE LANDING PORTS

The Minister of Defence (the Hon. Sir James Allen) advises that it will be possible in future to give earlier and more definito information to the next-of-kin and tho general public regarding returning drafts of New Zealand soldiers, an improvement in the system having' been promptly made by tho Defence Department as a result of the naval censorship over the moyo- - of trbopships and hospital ships in New Zealand waters having been lifted. ' Tho former limit of a fortnight before arrival can be abandoned, and the new system provides that on receipt of tho cabled nominal roll of a draft, the-next-of-kin'will.bo advised as soon as practicable of expected date and port of arrival of vessel, after which" the nominal roll .will bo released for public information. Any variation in the date cr port of arrival of'the vessel will be subsequently made public officially. ' . ' . ' .The prime object of this procedure is to preclude confusion, arising from any conflicting reports being circulated, and to obviate any necessity for individual inquiries by relatives rnd friends, lhe Department is only too anxious, now that it is possible, to afford the earliest information tp the publio fPK-ird" ing their returning soldier sons aim husbands, .but it will be realised that if its'work is congested by receipt of numerous inquiries from a large section of the relatives.and,friends .of any particular draft, not only will the work of notifying all next-of-kin of the draft be "delayed, but also subsequent drafts. For instance, relatives may receive cablegrams from ■- their menfolk who .believe they aro on the point of embarking for the Dominion (which is 110 guarantee that they have actually embarked,-though the majority may), and immediately address an' inquiry to the Department demanding information. This may ocour before the: vessel has actually cleared harbour, her departure' reported, or cabled nominal roll of troops conies to hand, the result being that a negative _ reply must be made, thus - adding quite uselessly to the already heavy work of the .Department. . , Next-of-kin of returning soldiers are to be informed that.after receipt ofthe notification from Base Kecords that a soldier is exoected back with a specified draft, all subsequent inquiries should be made to the headquarters of the district where the soldier will. disembark and not to. Base : Records. All arrangements for meeting , a transport —medical boarding, . disembarkation, and- returning soldiers to their homes —ate made by the district headquarters at port of disembarkation, and not by General Headquarters at 'Wellington, consequently earlier replies ,will be. available if the inquiries are sent direct to/ tho . district headquarters responsible for. the disembarkation procwlure. Prior to the arrival of. a draft ,at port of' arrival the arrangements :for landing and coastwise or inland transport as requisite will be announced, so that those concerned may'be fully informed. Therefore, following on notification of next-of-kin, and' publication of nominal rolls of respective drafts', the public will be kept fully informed officially as to : the position : so'that personal inquiry ,or speculation will be entirely unneces iary. ; The Department receives telegraphic reports in regard to the general health ,of each draft from ports of call, and also by wireless iu the later stages of voyage,-and the public may rest assured -that, where necessary,' 'atly': requisite action for the good of the troops 6r the general public will be taken. - - .

, In connection with the conveyance of the troops to the Dominion, it is pointed out that the vessels concerned are either Admiralty chartered transports or overseas liners under its requisition, New. Zealand troops being carried at per capita, rates fixed by the Minister of Shipping. . The vessels carry cargo, of course, and their port,of arrival is necessarily governed by proportion of passengers for such and cargo to be discharged. Owing to the still heavy demands ori ; shipping for repatriation and other war services, it is essential that vessels' should discharge cargoes and load for ireturn voyage as early as practicable, in accordance with strict Admiralty instructions. , . Under these, circumstances tho Defence Department ii unable to meet the natural dfciiiand from various , localir ties that particular ships numbers of men ' for those . districts shall make a certain port the first port of call. Tho'. primary consideration has.to be.facility, ni getting the ship's cargo discharged, the return cargo loaded, and a consequent hastening of the return of another draft bv the same ship. • I