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Hokitika Guardian, 18 December 1918, Page 2

The Minister of Defence said last week that it was probable that the Depart-, ment would not be able to deal with the matter of the payment of the gratuity to officers and men who had overseas service until demobilisation had been advanced some way. The details of the scheme would have to bo worked out before payments could be made. He mentioned also the power, taken under the Act to give the gratuity in cases otherwise than as a cash payment. This he said, would be 'difficult to arrange, but he hoped that in the interests of the men, some scheme would be devised. The married soldier who has been i n service as a volunteer since the early days of the war will received considerable benefit under the gratuity scheme. If the soldier is s'till with the forces his wife will he entitled to receive separation allowance at tho increased rate of throe shillings a day for the whole period of his service, and if tho soldier has been killed at the front his widow will be entitled to the increased separation allowance for the period of the soldier’s service. It has been suggested that there will be some sort of an extra payment to the men who have been wounded. This is not so. To the soldier who has suffered hurt of a serious nature the pension is paid, and there will he no extra gratuity. The amount of the gratuity to a married soldier may be subject to pro rata reduction in case it is found that the total sum required for the payment of the full allowance is more than Hie total sum voted, £440,000. Deluxe the next twelve months the shortage of doctors that has existed in New Zealand will he relieved by the return of more than 200 medical men at present on service with tho Expeditionary Force. The medical officers who loft Now Zealand for active service have begun to return already. They are arriving with every transport carrying returned men, and they will b 0 made available for civilian practice as quickly

: as possible. It is th® intention of the j Defence Department and the Public Health Department that the medical , men who have served with the Expeditional Force shall have first claim upon all public appointments. Health officers, medical superintendents, subsidised medical men and so forth will be re cruited aa far as possible from tho ranks of the doctors who have worn the King’s uniform. Many of these military doctors laid down practices when they entered the forces and it is impossible for them to recover their old connection after long absence. Many .-''g ! gestious have been made lately that the Government should organise tho medical service and also tho dental service on ft national basis:. It-does not appear that the Government, for tlio present at any rate, contemplates any comprehensive schemes on these lines, but tho proposals mad© in the Public Health Amendment Bill, passed during the recent session foreshadows increased em • ployment of medical men by the State ! ■ and municipalities. Tho military dental organisation will remain in existence during the demobilisation period and suggestions aro being made already that it should be continued on a. non- mili- ■ tary basis, as an adjunct of tho Public Health Department and the Education Department. ____