RETURNED SOLDIERS.

Taihape Daily Times, 31 January 1919, Page 5

RETURNED SOLDIERS.

o A SERIOUS HITCH. CHRISTCHURCH,- January A serious hitch occurred in connect tiou with the disembarkation of soldiers on board the transport Briton yesterday, owing to the discovery of a shortage of something like £2OO in the equipment. A court inquiry was set up, and later it was announced that Lieutenant-Colonel Holderness, officer in charge of the troops, that no men would be allowed to land until the equipment was replaced. This prohibition against landing was subsequently rescinded, but resulted in considerable muddle and delay. Colcnel Chaffey, the officer commaning the Canterbury district, disclaimed, on behalf of his staff, all responsibility for the contretemps, which it was alleged was due to orders issued to the officer commanding the troops on board not "having been carried out. It was pointed out that any deficiency in “kit” conV: have been ascertained weeks ago. The value of the missing kit would not compensate for the cost to the Defence Department through delay in disembarking.