LEAVE IN ENGLAND

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 211, 31 May 1919, Page 8

LEAVE IN ENGLAND

DISAPPOINTED SOLDIERS. Sir—l have waited in tlio hope of someone drawing attention to a grievance in connection with military matters, but wttlroiit result. Wo have been told again and again that all troops in Europe would bo given iiual leave in England Wore 'being returned to (ho Dominion. Hut my boy, and I suppose others, v.-ero no; given any such leave. He-was taken over from France and five days later embarked on the transport Itarnuga. The reason, or rather the excuse (reason is 100 good a word for it) given, was that all leave had to be stopped to supply sufficient men to fill 1 lie troopship. Now .1 consider it a scandalous Ihing Hint our hoys should lie taken over to tight, in Europe and then when tliev are no longer wauled rushed back without giving tlieni u chance to visit; their English relatives—the only chance they will perhaps get in their lives,, and those relatives saving up 'or tho occasion for weeks out of their, limited food rations. It was a glorious action on the part of their grateful country to so reward those who Mid "ought and bled in its behalf. No doubt there were hundreds with no relatives in England who would gladly have tilled the troopship had they been given Hie chance. 1 suppose, it is another cose of "a lilliu brief authority.''' It would only he justice were those ho treated returned to take out their leave at the evpen.se of tho parlies responsible. It would seem Hint our National Government, or others acting in its behalf, are determined to make it stink in tl.e nostrils of the people before Hie next election comes round.—l am, etc.. PARENT. iiVo definite information on the Vxtsis on wli'i'ii leavo is regulated prior lo embarkation is obtainable here. The mutter is one solely under the control nf t'e T.'.\p(d'tionary Force Command in England and tlio Shipping Controller. The Shipping Controller is in ro way under she Netv Zealand Government, >md the Expeditionary Force Command has. to act without reference to New Zealand very often. The most reliable information that can be obtained on the question is that from soldiers recently returned. If should be understood that New Zealand is being given rather specially good treatment in the matter'of the repatriation of soldiers. None of tho other Dominions lire getting their men back so quietly. In the early days of the repatriation process it was the custom to give tho men leave before embarkation. and tho practice is still continued with limitations.- But it was not always known when a ship would be able to sail, and occasionally tho sailing dales were put forward. This caused embarrassment when the men lo till.the ship were on leavo For some ships applications had to be called for men wishing to return, and some of the vessels had to Je.ave without their full complement of troops. In the present shortage of shippinsr this could not be permitted by the authorities, and the custom now is that no men whose names are on an embarkation roll are given leave. Jlost-of them do get leave before they get on a roll for a shin, but a iiiiimbor have not; had leave. Tho authorities admit that it is "hard lines" far Ihe men sometimes, nun /Hie case, in nuesficn seems to have beeii a hard one.!