THE SOLDIER.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 1927, 16 January 1919, Page 3

THE SOLDIER.

PRIVILEGES UPON RETURN. A GOVERNMENT HANDBOOK. Wellington This. Day. The First Demobilisation Edition of the Returned Soldiers’ Handbook lias been issued. The.handbook has undergone a thorough pruning, which is to its advantage, as (he returning soldier has usually so much to occupy his attention, so many personal interests, that he endeavours to dispose as speedily as possible of anything savouring of ’’red tape.” The Defence Authorities are evidently cognisant of this little weakness, which often leads the soldier to neglect his own interests, for they have issued simultaneously with the handbook a six-page summary of the forty pages. The summary, a handy pamphlet, is to he given to every returning soldier while on the ship, and he may obtain the full copy of the regulations on application. A tittle later, it is proposed to issue a special chapter on repatriation, for the guidance of (ho men before they set foot in Now Zealand. For the benefit of the soldiers’ relatives, who are almost as much interested in his privileges as the soldier himself, wo give a brief outline of the privileges to which the returned soldier is entitled, quoting from the handbook, which sets everything out fully, and which will be a valuable guide to patriotic societies and other organisations concerned with the men’s welfare. Before disembarking, the soldier obtains-■ an advance of pay amounting to £5, if available, though if he is sent direct to hospital (he advance is £l. Except those who have been returned for punishment, or who eontraded disease through their own art ion, returning soldiers , receive before discharge a warrant entitling (hem to free railway I ravelling for a period of 28 days. Ibis musl, he used within three mouths followini;- the dale of the commencement of Ihe 28 days' leave on full pay, which they receive on disembarkation, prior to discharge. Invalided soldiers obtain this privilege when their treatment is completed. Prior to discharge, the soldier must travel in uniform, but if lie uses the pass after discharge, when lie wears mufti, he must carry his discharge certificate, (o prove bona (ides. While (ravelling on the pass, (lie soldier is entitled to free meals where trains slop for (his purpose. The New Zealand steamship companies have generously joined with (lie Government in this concession to the extent of granting the returned soldier return tickets for single fare. The companies which grant this privilege are the Union Steam Ship Company, Ihuldai't Parker, Ltd., Northern Steamship Co., Richardson' and Co., Anchor Shipping Co., and Wairau Steamship Co. in eases where the soldier has to receive medical treatment prior to discharge, (he Medical Board on (ho ship will grant one w'eek’s sick have before the treatment commences, if it is possible to do so without injury to I lie soldier’s health. This will enable him lo,visit his relatives before undergoing hospital treatment. There arc eases in which the sick leave privilege cannot lie extended. Then the wife and parents are given free railway passes to the (own in which the hospital is situated. Application for these passes must be made to Base Records. Where there is no witci or parent, one warrant will be issued to the next-of-kin. Though full pay goes on while (tie soldier is in hospital, the soldier will only receive, by fortnightly warrants, Js (id per day, though allotments go on as usual. The balance is paid him as soon as he leaves I lie hospital. The provisions regarding discharge are best given in full as they appear in the Handbook: — (a) If medical treatment is’not required, (lie soldier will receive twenty-eight days’ privilege leave and be discharged. (h) The soldier rein rued invalided and requiring medical treatment will not, unless otherwise determined by the Commandant, bo discharged from the Expeditionary Force during such time as he continues to ‘ require medical treatment as an in-patient of a hosjhtal or convalescent home. (c) Out-patients will tie discharged when a Medical Board considers that (hoy are able to undertake some civil employment and recommends discharge.