FINES ON ACTIVE SERVICE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 2004, 17 July 1919, Page 4

FINES ON ACTIVE SERVICE.

THE REMISSION POLICY,

Wellington, This Day

A special Court of Inquiry was recently set up by the Defence Department to consider applications for remission of fines and forfeitures incurred under Section 46 of the Army Act. The reason for this action is that it is considered by the authorities only fair to soldiers who have given good service in the field, and lyive cleared their record, that the monetary penalties incurred in order to enforce discipline during active service and training should now be refunded. Under the stress of war obligations, men came from civil life and were rapidly trained to military discipline, and this had often to be enforced by the punishment of a forfeiture of pay. Examination of the records of punishment shows that the New Zealand soldier was not prone to serious of ■> fences. Absence without leave for short periods, and minor military offences which tended to impair good discipline comprises the bulk of the delinquencies. These offences had to be checked, so as not to impair the efficiency of the whole force, but now the time of stress is over the authorities can take an easier view of the situation, and the result will be the remission of a large number of forfeitures of pay. Hundreds of applications for remissions have already been received by the Director of Base Records, and the Court of Inquiry has laid down important general principles on which it will take action. It will decline to grant remissions for such serious offences as the following:—’ Desertion, insubordination to an officer, self-inflicted wounds, theft, uttering forged documents, or absence from duty during action. Consideration of applications for remission will be given for ordinary offences only in cases where the soldier has a clear record of six months, where he has been promoted on the field, or where he has received an award or declaration. The decision of the Court is communicated to the soldier concerned, and also to the Officer in Charge of War Expenses, who will make the necessary adjustment of the pay account.