SOLDIERS’ NEXT-OF-KIN.

Taihape Daily Times, 28 March 1919, Page 4

SOLDIERS’ NEXT-OF-KIN.

(Special to the “Taihape .Times.’7 WELLINGTON, This Day. Thousands of New Zealaridors hjo awaiting the welcome notificatJL from Base Records that their soldier rcjfafive is on his way to New Zealand Therefore they will be interested to know how the Defence Department 'Seals with the next-of-kin of returning drafts. About fourteen days before a ship is due to arrive Base Records sends to the next-of-kin of each man aboard a notification that cabled advice of the soldier’s return has been received, that he is on a boat named, and the probable date of arrival is mentioned. 1 lie recipient is advised to watch the newspapers for any alteration in the arrival 'date. It will be seen from this that next-of-kin should carefully maintain at Base Records their correct address. The authorities do not ob—ect to noting even brief changes fyorn the usual address so long as they know that they can reach the soldier’s relatives quickly with the notification. As the soldier is sent, to his homo as quickly as possible after disembarkation his next-of-kin are advised to await him at home, and they will receive a telegram immediately the ship arrives, mentioning the time at which the soldier should reach home. When next-of-kin travel to the port of disembarkation they often have to put np with the disappointment of not lining able to travel back with their'soldier relative, as the special' trains must be reserved for the soldiers. Though the Defence Department docs not encourage next-of-kin to visit the port of ’disembarkation they afford special facilities on rite wha,vf for the soldier’s relatives. Noxt-of-in passes arc obtainable- by bona fide next-of-kin at the Defence Headquarters of the district where the soldier will disembark, except in the case of Wellington, where the issue of these tickets is made from the more conveniently situated office of Base Records, at the back of Government Buildings. If an invalid soldier is sufficiently well to be granted a week’s leave he is allowed to go home fqr that period, end then report for treatment at a hospital. Where this cannot be done, and the soldier has to go straight into hospital, Ins wife and parents are entitled. upon making application to Base Records, Wellington, to receive free railway warrants to visit cM|e patient in hospital. If the soldier has no wife or parent, one railway warrant is available to Ids next-of-kin.