THE SOLDIERS’ GUIDE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 1975, 10 May 1919, Page 4

THE SOLDIERS’ GUIDE.

DEFENCE DEPARTMENT’S PUBLICATION. Wellington, This Day. When the tide of voluntary recruiting was at its height, the Defence Department and the National Recruiting Board received constant inquiries from intending soldiers as to (heir pay, the conditions of enlistment, physical standard, outfit, etc. Owing to the subdivision of the various activities, so as to enable them to be efficiently carried out on a largo scale, it was necessary to inquire of several Government offices before the soldier could get all the information he often required. To meet this position, the Hon. Sir James Allen directed the preparation of “The Recruits’ Handbook,” which gave succinctly, in clear language, the necessary details desired by most recruits. Now , the war is over, the Minister of Defence has made the same provision for the returned soldier. From all departments of the State a journalist has collected information regarding the privileges and concessions available to soldiers and their dependents. They have been set out carefully, so as to cover the three important stages of demobilisation —overseas, before discharge, and after discharge. In a carefully indexed booklet of handy size there are sixty pages deatiling the order of return from abroad, the assistance given to soldiers’ wives, fiancees and children in the way of passage-money grants and advice upon a.rrival; the educational scheme in England and concessions to scholars wishing to complete their education abroad; the procedure on disembarkation in New Zealand; travelling concessions; provision ot artificial limbs and other appliances; medical treatment before and after discharge (with description of the treatments at twenty hospitals directly under Defence Department control) ; the curative and vocational training system in hospitals; pay and allowances, including retrospective separation allowance; the Soldiers’ Financial Assistance scheme, which has been made retrospective for men who were serving abroad when the scheme was initiated; war pensions; the Repatriation Board’s organisation and facilities given by it to returned soldiers; particulars of courses at Slate farms, and expert advice on agricultural subjects available to soldier settlers; land settlement opportunities including the financing of land purchases and the buying or building of dwellings; educational bursaries for soldiers desiring technical or other education; the conditions affecting soldiers who are members of the public service: issue of war medals; protection from legal action; and a number of other matters of importance to the returned soldier. A clearly written outline of all concessions is given, and the booklet contains directions for obtaining further details when they are desired. “When the wln.de of these activities are realised," slates the introduction, "it is to be hoped that a perusal of this necessarily brief summary will lead to a realisation that a tremendous amount of work has been done (o lighten the material sacrifices of our men, and that the end of the war does not by .any means mark the cessation of the Slate's interest in the walla re of its soldiers. Every returning soldier from the present dale will receive a copy «f the Guide on the transport, and all others will be able to obtain it gratis from Defence offices and Base Records, Wellington.