HOSPITAL DISCIPLINE.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16422, 16 January 1919, Page 8

HOSPITAL DISCIPLINE.

• THE RETURNED SOLDIER. ' NEW REGULATIONS FRAMED. 1 Important regulations relating to discipline among returned soldiers under* ; going medical or curative treatment, in j Now Zealand have been issued. TWy j are framed under the Defence Act, : 1909, and they define a "soldier of an Expeditionary Force" as any member of the Expeditionary Force who is .in receipt of military pay as such. The regulations include the following provisions: "No soldier of an Expeditionary Force, while such soldier is undergoing j medical or curative treatment as a paI tienfc in, or an out-patient of, any hospital, convalescent home, or other institution, shall purchase or consume any intoxicating hqubr r whether such purchase or consumption takes place within such hospital, convalescent : home, or other institution, or elsewhere, without the permission of the officer in charge or in command. • Any soldier of an Expeditionary Force, while such, soldier is undergoing medical or curative treatment as a pai tient in, or an out-patient of, any hospital, convalescent home, or . other institution shall be guilty of an offence against these regulations who— fa) Is absent without leave; (b) Neglects to obey any general or garrison or other ordfers; (c) Attends any political meeting in uniform; (d) Accepts remuneration for civil employment before discharge; (e) Fails to wear uniform until discharged ; (f) Appears improperly dressed in i public; (g) Behaves! in an unsoldierly, disor- ■ derly, or insubordinate manner; i (lj) Fails to report venereal disease. ' A soldier is to be deemed to be ab- r ? sent without leave if he fails .tg- keep l ' the Defence authorities informed of ' his address, or fails to report at the expiration of a leave certificate, or to ' present himself for examination or ' treatment as ordered. y ' The summary jurisdiction of com- ' manding officers is extended so that 1 they are empowered to impose fines not; 1 exceeding £2 in dealing summarily 1 with offences under these regulations, and such fines shall. be deducted from the pay of the soldier adjudged guilty of any,such offence, in addition to any forfeiture of pay which may have beeii in arrear through the soldier's absence from duty. _ Nothing in these regulations shall, in &ny manner restrict or take away the liability of a soldipr under the . Array Act, or under any other regulations under the Defence Act, 1909, save that no soldier shall be punished twice for ' the same offence, i ■ i.