DEMOBILISATION.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16417, 10 January 1919, Page 7

DEMOBILISATION.

* ORIGINAL SCHEME TO STAND. (By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, January 7. Tho "Star" states that the contract system of demobilising soldiers on leave possessing an employer's written undertaking to provide work, will be dropped, and the original scheme adhered to. by which priority will bo given according to the national importance of the men's civil occupations. ANOTHER DEMONSTRATION. (Australian and N.Z., Cable Association.) (Reutcr'a Telegrams.) LONDON, Janiiary 8. Four thousand members of the Army Service Corps marched from Park Royal to Whitehall, to ventilate grievances concerning demobilisation.! General Sir Wm. Robertson received the deputation, and said the general in command at Park Royal would investigate the complaints. ARMY COUNCIL'S DECISION. (Rcccived January 9th, 8.10 p.m.) LONDON, January 8. The Army Council announces that no officer or soldier will be permitted to proceed to England on leave from France except on the distinct understanding that lie returns to his unit at the expiration of his leave, and will not bo demobilised during the period of leave. Experience lfas shoxfai the necessity cf this order to ensure the maintenance of the army of occupation. All officers and men now on leave from France will be demobilised if they are pivotal men assured of civil employment.. and belong to the industrial grouos opened for demobilisation. If they can be spared from the army, the same privilege will be accorded all ranks on leave from other expeditionary forces, if similarly qualified. TEE DOMINION'S FORCES. As stated by Sir James Allen, ActingPrime Minister and Minister of Defence. in the Houee last session, it is intended, in respect of the demobilisation of the Dominion's oversea forces, to demobilise the men from the ship's side to their homos. Tho idea is that a transport of Canterbury men will come to Lyttelton, and that the transport conveying Otago men will go to Port Chalmers. The Minister states that it may not be possible to adhere rigidly to this rule, as on some occasions there may nos be the full complement for a transport due to return to any particular district; furthermore, tho matter is still to a certain extent under the finger of the Shipping Controller. As far as circumstances will permit, the rule will be, "every man straight home." The routine work of demobilisation will bo carried out on board the transports. In tho ease of a private who left with tho Main Body, and saw service, say, on Gallipoli, and was returned to New Zealand on duty and granted a commission, leaving again on active service with a later reinforcement draft, the Minister is of opinion that such a solilier, for the purposes of demobilisation, should rank as a Main Body man; the matter is one, however, for the General Officer Commanding to decide.