LEAVE WITHOUT PAY

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

LEAVE WITHOUT PAY

THE STATUS OF RESERVISTS.

When the armistice was signed several thousand men were under orders to proneed to camp on various dates. . lliey were men who had been passed fit wd posted to reinforcement drafts, iftej included a large proportion of moiried "The mobilisation of reinforcements was suspended immediately after the of the armistice, and subsequently notices were sent to the men awaiting mobilisation, informing them that they had been granted "leave without pay ther orders were issued. Some ot these reservists are inquiring n ° status and whether or not they need take anv military obligation into account when making business and domestic arrange- " Technically the °n ,leave without nnv are soldiers. They have beta at tested and they are subject to the orders of the Commandant of the New Zealand Forces and authorised officers. Their liabilities in this respect are stated oil the leave forms. But it seems quite certain that the leave men will not.be called upon for any military sernce. Nothing short of the resumption of the war would render it necessary for the Government to call them into camp, for training. The men, to be on the safe side, should notify the Defence authorities of any change of address. . After the signing of the peace treaty, the reservists now on leave without pay will be gazetted out of the forces. It is not intended to issue formal discharges to men who have merely been attested but have never actually perfoimed any military se:v:c? ;