THE SOLDIER.

Otaki Mail, 22 January 1919, Page 4

THE SOLDIER.

, PErVTLEGES UPON RETURN. ; A 'GOyEENMENT': .HANDBOOK. ■ ' , The First Demobilisation Edition oi' the 'Returned Soldiers' Haudbcok has been issued. ; ; Tho handbook has under-. «one a thorough pruning, wnieh is to .its advantage,'as 'the returning soldier has usually so much to occupy his attention,' so many personal interests, that lie 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 be given to every returning soldier while on (ho ship, and ho may obtain the full copy of the regulations on application. A little later, ! it is proposed to issue a special chapter ; on repatriation for the guidance of, the men before" they sot foot in New Zealand. For-the benefit of the soldiers' relatives, who are almost as much interested in his privolegcs as the soldier himself, we 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 valuablo guide to patriotic societies and other.organisations concerned with the mens'welfare, ■• ■ " Before disembarking,-the'soldier;ob-tains an advance of pay amounting to £5, if available, though if .he is'scnt, d.i- ; reet to hospital, the.advance is.£l. Except those who Tiave.bcen returned for punishment, or who. contracted disease through,their ,pwn action, returning soldiers receive" before discharge a warrant! entitling them, to free,railway travelling for .a -period of iS days. This, must lie vised-within three months following the date of the commeuement of the 2& days.leave on full pay which they receive on disembarkation, prior to discharge. Invalided soldiers obtain this privilege when their tfeafriieni is completed. Prior to discharge, the soldier must navel in uniform, but if lie uses the pass after discharge the soldier must travel in uniform, but. if lie uses the pass after discharge, when be wear; mufti, he must carry Ins discharge certificate i„ ' prove bona fides. While travelling ou the pass, the soldier is entitled 10 free meals where trains stop for this purpose. The Xew Zealand Uca'mship; companies have gener- . ously joined with the Government in this concession, to the extent of granting .the returned soldier return tickets for single fare. The companies which grant this privilege arc the Union Steam Ship Company, Huddart Pinker, Ltd., Northern Steamship Co., Anchor Shipping Co., and Wairau Steamship Co.

.Tn cases where the soldier has to receive medical treatment prior to discharge, the Medical Board on the ship will grant one week's sick leave before the treatment commences, if it is possible to do so without injury to the soldier's heallh. This will enable him to visit his relatives before undergoing hospital treatment. There are cases in which tho sick leave privilege cannot bo extended. Then the wife and/parents arc given free railway passes lo the town in which Hie hospital is situated. Application for these passes must .bo made to Base ' Records. Where there is no wife or parent, one warrant will bo issued to the next of, kin. Though full pay goes on while the soldier is in hospital, the soldier will only receive, by fortnightly warrants. Is tid per day, though allotments go on as usual.. The balance is paid him as soon as he leaves tlie hospital. The provisions regarding discharge arc best, given in full as they appear in the Handbook: — , (a) If medical tratjucnt is not required the soldier will receive twentyeight days' privilege leave and be.discharged. (b) The soldier, returned invalided, and requiring medical treatment will not, unless otherwise determined by the Commandant, be discharged from theExpeditionary Force during such time as he continues to - require m'edical treatment as an inpatient of a hospital or convalescent home.' .' (e) Out-patients will bo discharged when a Medical Board considers that they are able fo undertake some civil employment and recommends discharge.