Mrs Anzac

Levin Daily Chronicle, 7 March 1918, Page 1

Mrs Anzac

ERITISIT Bi.ID.i3S FOR BILLJIM. 800 WEDDINGS A MONTH. Tlio New .Siuiih Wales Premier has nveivd !:';;er from tho Agcnt(irueral, in \vl::rh lie .states that a somewhat ii"vol rieveleiim' iit has taken place with regnal to Australian soldiers. They are marrying English women and ar.- anxious that tho same (.■oneession Mi■ ■ 11i■■ i i>r made in the passage money (i> iheir wives on tho jou'm y to Australia. '' L'liiier flu; provision for nominating immigrants," Sir Charles Wade points out, "any resident of New South Wales may, under certain conditions, nominate a person in Great Britain, who will receive the benefit of a reduction in the passage rates on immigrating to the State, and it is sought by these soldiers who have so married to bring their wives under the operation of this scheme. ASSISTED PASSAGES WANTED. "Literally the nominations do not apply to soldiers who are over at the front indefinitely, but the immigration officers have applied this provision in favour of such soldiers who have asked for the concession. But tho question is likely to grow, and I should like the official confirmation of tho Government of this extension of their immigration policy. . - "I am informed that some 2,000' Australians have married womtn in the United Kingdom, and recently these marriages have taken place at the rate of 800 a month. "In the next year or so it may be reckoned that a substantial number will be granted concessions in this direction. I shall, therefore, be glad to receive the authority of the Government to extend this concession of reduced rates to wives of soldiers who marry in this country and desire to make their home in Australia after the war." Mr Ilolman has cabled to Sir Charles Wade stating that the benefit of assisting passages may be extended to wives of soldiers married in Britain who desire to make their home in Australia. SWEETHEARTS, TOO. PASSPORTS REFUSED. LONDON, January 31. Tho authorities are discussing whether the fiancees of Auzacs should bo transported to Australia. Many of the young women have applied for free pa rages undeT the repatriation scheme. Owing" to the intervention of the National Service Department and the Foreign Ofliee- declining to issu" passports' to those fiancees who are capable of war work, only two have hitherto been granted. The soldiers are now asking whether tho Government will provide transport for the girls if they arc married immediately. This has been condemned lest it" should place a premium on hasty marriages. An outgoing ship will carry a number of nominated immigrants for Victoria and New South Wales, whose claimt. were regarded as urgent.