OVERSEAS DISCHARGES

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 138, 6 March 1919, Page 6

OVERSEAS DISCHARGES

THE CONDITIONS. Applications by members of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force for discharge in England have become numerous. no fewer than ninety having to be dealt with at Base Records in one day recently. There is an excellent reason for some of these discharges, as the soldier utilises his time in England to improve his knowledge of the business in which he was engaged as a civilian. Thus the Dominion gains from the increased efficiency of these enterprising men, and the Defence Department throws no obstacle in their way, so long as their dependants are not prejudiced. If the time required for picking up this knowledge is not more than three months, the soldier may secure leave for this period, one month on full pay, and the remainder without pay. However, a discharge overseas has to be subject lo several important provisions, as the dependants in New Zealand must be considered. Allotments are suspended upon receipt of the cabled request for discharges, and they cease altogether oy the actual date of discharge as notified from England after its approval. .

If the soldier desires' immediate discharge in England inquiry has to i be made in New Zealand regarding the bona, fides of the application, and it is only granted \yhen the authorities are satisfied that the reason is sound.

In cases of discharge abroad, in lieu of return to New Zealand in normal sequence, the application is cabled to New Zealand at the applicants expense, and the Defence Department investigates the position from the viewpoint of the soldier's dependants. The written approval of the next-of-kin is required, and if there are dependants the Government requires a legal guarantee that the State will be under no liability for their maintenance as a result of the soldier's discharge overseas. This i 6 enforced with a bond for /;300. These provisions are designed to prevent hardship to dependants through the stoppage of ,allotments upon discharge. When the procedure is complete the approval for discharge is cabled to England. The same precautions on behalf of dependants are taken in cases of application for immediate discharge.

If the discharged soldier returns to New Zealand within twelve' months he will be entitled to receive in a lump sum t.h,( amount which the Government would have paid for his passage from England to New Zealand had he travelled with his unit on the transport.