SAFEGUARDING VESSELS.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 November 1917, Page 7

SAFEGUARDING VESSELS.

1 STATEMENT TiY DEFENCE j MINISTER. | FAREWELL TROOPS. Sir James 'Alton stated «n Thursday the new arfaa'gemciits madfc by the Department in connection with the fare.welling of troops by next of kin. When a large number of people <wer£ aJtewed. alongside departing troopships there Vaj always a risk that 'unftitlidly perswos might hand parcels, with dangerous contents. over the ship's aide. Mines had beon strewn off the Australian coasts and one New Zealand vessel had been sunk, though it was not definitely established VHirthW by Ttvilriwg n urine -ot not. He could not pay what vessel it was other than that it was not a transport. ii was certain that mines hud been sown in those waters, as they had been dragged ashore and destroyed. In view of the' attfudjtaj' the de-, pwlwe -eif.vcssols the .BepamnenV 'found it necessary to barricade the approaches to a)l wfuirves and in fot'ilfe fiSfle at all would be allowed oil the wharves except those engaged oh military duty. Arrangements had been Wade whereby next of kin and relatives Wild visit the men iii "<?a"mp 'stunt; ifeiys ■before -their--1 departure. The point he wished to stress was that the Department could not tike the responsibility <Jf hptHyiiVg relatives of the date when tli'o visit cotfhl be made. The men would be'Woli'fied in time, and on them devolved the respwmMiiiy of cenimunifidting with . their people and notifying them on what date they should bo in Wellington to take advantage of the special train which would be rfln to Trenttiam. Reduced fares would bu charged on this train and ample time Wolild be allowed -for , farewells. _Ths 'Minister ' said tlitjfb-lie recognisifl tte Depairtinertt was a'sTung 1 the public t?> make a 'further sacrlfici, but he hoped tlia't they would look on the new arrangement as one made in the best interest wf "the efit-n and for the safety of tl'fe sYnppnig, and accept the decision in good spirit.