SOLDIERS' DISCHARGES

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 272, 6 August 1918, Page 8

SOLDIERS' DISCHARGES

AN ABSURD SYSTEM. "Each soldier on discharge from the Expeditionary Force," states the report of tho Defence Commission, "receives a certificate of discharge setting forth the length of his service, which, among other things, bears testimony to his conduct while on service. The qualifications vary through "Very good," "Good," "Fair,' and Bad," and we were very surprised to find that the first could not be obtained without a servico of two years and a half, "It was admitted that a perfectly colourless 1 individual, of no partioulor use as civilian or as soldier, who • had served.for two years and a half, and who had been speeded on his homeward way without one sigh of regret from his fellows, but who (luring his service had not been found out in any crime or misdemeanour, received a- conduct certificate on loaving the New Zealand Army, 'Very rood.' A gallant soldier, a leader among his fellow, perhaps passed out of his regiment through a hospital, beloved and admired by his comrades, with two years and live months' service' to Ms credit, would be marked 'Good.' Is this 6ort of oddity more amusing or pathetic? "When explanation was denknded wo had good old 'King's Regulations'— trained lor a staudiug army of longl- - men—thrown in our faces; but 'lung's Angulations' were found 'not guilty,' as tiiey do not stipulate two years and u half, their minimum for long-service soluiers to obtain 'Very good' being six years. To accentuate llie feebleness, there is nothing on tho discharge certificate to explain how and why the different conduct grades are awarded. This Bhoukl be altered without delay. A gallant soldier who has behaved well should receive his lull meed of praise if, through wounds or even sickI ness, he lias to leave the Army offer ouly u lew months.

"Employers to whom these certificates may bo offered us credentials for employment should know that their real worth is to show that during the military career of a discharged' soldier he was neither drunken nor insubordinate. His other qualities are in no way allilded to.

"These certificate®, too, are not so much for to-duy: tiey will be handed reverently as priceless heirlooms in the fur future."