RAILWAY PRIVILEGES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 October 1943, Page 3

RAILWAY PRIVILEGES

TO MEN ON FURLOUGH AN EXTENSION GRANTED (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. The extension of railway travel privileges for members of the Middle East furlough draft who will be returningoverseas was announced last night by the Minister of Defence, Mr Jones. He said it was originally expected that members of the draft would not have the opportunity of availing themselves of the free railway ticket beyond October 14. “It is now evident that those members who are returning overseas will not be required to leave New Zealand for some little time, and in the case of such members the travel privileges will therefore be extended,” said the Minister. “Medical examinations and appeals are now proceeding, and as soon as it is decided that a man is fit and otherwise eligible for returning overseas, the appropriate area officer will extend 'the currency of his free railway ticket to cover the period that will elapse up to the time he is required to report to camp.” Mr Jones said that it had been reported that some members of the draft had been unable to return to their homes owing to the expiry of their rail pass. Any men so situated would, on application to the nearest Army office, be furnished with a free railway warrant to jheir home town.