ARMY LEAVE

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 101, 23 January 1943, Page 4

ARMY LEAVE

Forces On Service In Dominion IMPORTANT CHANGES MADE New Furlough Provisions Several important changes in the amount of furlough and special leave that may be granted to members of the New Zealand military forces on full time service within the Dominion were announced by the Minister of Defence,. Mr. Jones, last evening. The Minister said that the provisions for leave had been made as generous as possible consistent with the present military situation and training requirements, and that adherence to the revised leave and furlough instructions would continue to depend upon those two factors and on the "necessary transport facilities being available.

“The principal changes made,” said Mr. Jones, "provide an extension of the basis upon which compassionate leave is allowed in the event of the death or serious illness of a member o£ a soldier’s family, longer furlough for members of the temporary stall and a much wider application of the principle of granting free travel warrants to personnel proceeding on leave. In addition, ordinary weekend leave and also leave on Saturdays and Sundays and at night during tlie week will be granted as generously as possible, consistent with efiiciency, on the general principle that personnel should not be unnecessarily detained in camp. Free travelling warrants will not be issued for such leave.”

Furlough will in future be granted as follows: —

Territorial Force: Members of the 'Territorial Force may be granted'seven days, plus half the travelling time between their camp and their homes for every two months’ service. For this period they will receive full pay and dependants’ and. subsistence allowances and free travelling warrants. Furlough in any one two-months’ period is cancelled if the member, during the period, is absent without leave for five days whether consecutive or not. It’ he has been absent without leave for less than five days his seven days’ furlough may be cancelled or reduced at the discretion of bis officer commanding. Reinforcement Drafts.

“Tlie above provisions do not apply to N.Z.E.F. reinforcement drafts, for whom special leave arrangements will be made from time to time,’’ said Mr. Jones. “A member liable for limited service (e.g., a farmer, farm labourer, or dairy factory, worker who is liable by the determination of an Armed’Forces Appeal Board to serve only for a specified limited period) will not be entitled to furlough unless the period of service exceeds 12 weeks, in which ease he will be entitled to ordinary furlough privileges. If the period, is less than 12 weeks then nt its conclusion the member is entitled to leave on full pay and dependants’ and subsistence allowance at the rate of three days for each completed period of four weeks." Temporary Staff: Furlough for temporary staff is based on each period of 12 months from November. 1942. Fall pay and dependants’ and subsistence allowances are payable. For members living in camp the furlough is 28 days each furlough period (including travelling time), with not exceeding three free travelling warrants to and from homes. Members not. living in camps will be granted 21 days each furlough period (including travelling time) with not exceeding two free travelling warrants to and from homes. Furlough may be granted in one or more periods and at a time or times nt the discretion of the members officer commanding. Furlough may not be accumulated from one furlough period to another. Leave of any kind for five or more consecutive days or any period of absence without leave will bh deducted from furlough. Furlough for members of the N.Z. Army Nursing Service and the N.Z. Momens Army Auxiliary Service will be on the same conditions as for the temporary staff, except that the period is 18 days, excluding Sundays and statutory holidays, but including travelling time. Not more than three free travelling warrants each furlough period will be granted. Special Leave. Compassionate Leave: Compassionate leave with full pay and dependants and subsistence allowances and free travel ling warrants will be granted for the following reasons : — . Death or serious illness ot mother, father, wife or child —14 days, excluding travelling time. . Death or serious illness ot sister or brother —7 days, excluding travelling time. . The granting of compassionate leave in respect of a sister or brother is a new provision. , Confinement Leave: Fourteen days confinement leave plus travelling time may be granted to a member whose wile has recently been or is about to be confined. Full pay and subsistence and dependants’ allowances are payable for this period, and free travelling warrants are issued. In certain cases an extension for a period not exceeding 14 days may be granted on the same-con-ditions, except that unallotted pay ceases. The dispatch to camp of a member who is -under notice to proceed to camp and whose wife has been or is about to be confined- may be postponed. The above provisions apply only to those members of the Temporary Stall who are not living at home. Examination Leave: To enable a member to sit for a University or other recognized examination leave for the period of the examination (with full pay and subsistence and dependant's allowances and free travelling warrants) may be granted. In addition, I t days’ leave may bo granted under similar conditions to enable a member to prepare for an examination. This leave will be for the fortnight immediately before .the, examination. There is also provision for leave on discharge, for urgent private reasons not mentioned above and to enable the member to attend tin Armed Forces Appeal Board hearing. “The new leave provisions are set out in detail in Administrative Instructions issued from Army Headquarters this week,” said Mr. Jones. “Apart from the changes mentioned above the new instructions are a consolidation of a number of existing instructions. The n( '"’ provisions apply to nil members of the Army emploved on full time service m New Zealand (including mobilized members of the Home Guardi, excepting members of the Regular Force.”