OVERSEAS DISCHARGES.

Otaki Mail, Volume 26, 10 March 1919, Page 4

OVERSEAS DISCHARGES.

THE CONDITIONS. Applications by members of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force for -discharge in England, have become numerous, no fewer than ninety having to be dealt with at Base Records in one day recently. There is an excellent reason for some of these discharges, as the soldier utilises Iris time m England to improve his knowledge cf vhe business in which he was'engnged.&s a civilian. Thus tie D',minion pains from increased efficiency of their enterprising men, and the Defence Department throws no obstacle in their way, so long as their depend '.its aro not pied.Uuiced. If the time required for -picking up this knowledge is not mere than three for this period, one month: on full pay and tho remainder -without pay. However, a discharge overseas-has to be subject to several iihportant'pFovisions, as the'dependents in New;Zealand must be considered.- Allotments are 'suspended upon receipt of the cabled request for discharge);}; and 7 they_icea.se altogether on 'thefihfifpU dates-of? discharge as notified from England'after its approval. If the soldier desires immediate -discharge in -EnglandNeiiquiry has to be made in New s Zealand; regarding - the bona tides 'of. the application, airil.it is only granted when the authorities arosatisfied thafijhc reason -is soiind.

In-cases of discharge'abroad in lieu of return to New Zealand in normal sequence, the application is" cabled to. New Zealand at the applicant’s expense, and the Defence Department investigates the position- from tho viewpoint of the soldier’s dependents. The written approval of the next of kia is required, and if there are depnedents the Government requires a legal guarantee that the State will be under no liability for their maintenance as, a result of the soldier’s discharge overseas. This is enforced with a bond for £3OO. These provisions are designed to prevent hardship to dependents through the stoppage of allotments, upon- discharge. When the procedure is- complete, the-approval for discharge ; is cabled to England. The same precautions on behalf of dependents are taken in cases of ■ application for immediate discharge. If the discharged soldier returns to New Zealand within twelve months he will be entitled to receive in a lump sum the amount which the Government would have paid-for his passage from England to New Zealand, had he tra*. veiled with his unit on the transport.