FURLOUGH FOR MAIN BODY MEN.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 6, Issue 284, 15 June 1917, Page 4 (Supplement)

FURLOUGH FOR MAIN BODY MEN.

Tho correspondence that is being addressed to the "Otago Daily Times," in which the plea is made that the remaining members of the Main Body rf the Expeditionary Force should be granted furlough during the next European vnter, if the war has not then been concluded, in order that they may visit their own country, wili, we aro ■*ire, *e generally read with sympaetie interest. The suggestion of one correspondent that these men should So granted their discharge must, as the "limes'" says, be put aside. The lact that their enlistment was for three years o; for the duration of the war, unless they should have been previously discharged, is in itself sriKcient to rule out any idea that they should be relea: cd irom service. lint if the war is to continue into another year—a contingency which it is impossible now to regard as unlikely—and if the exior the military s:tuation admit of these men, whatever tneir number may be. who enlisted in the early days of the war and received few of the concessions that are enjoyed by members of the reinforcements, being grantee! a long liirlourTi during the next European winter, it is to te hoped that the A!in ster of Defence will take into earnest consideration the representations of tlte correspondents. As our contemporary say-, the suggestion th'it, the moii of the Alain Bod}' should be granted an extended leave, enabling them to visit the Dominion, nny bt novel, and is doubtless unprecedented, but, in face of the knowledge that reinforcements accumulated dnr:ng tho winter, to such an extent as t"> form a fresh brigade, it would peril api be too much t--> say that it is impracticable. In the j'lernative, it may bo worthy ol consideration whether the-o men, or some of them, might not be re. ailed to perform instructional or tlier duties, such as their experience should qualify them tdT perform, and thus to release, lor active service at the trout, an equal number of men «rt» hate so far lieen prevented from taking a part 111 the actual lighting.