DEMOBILISATION.

Otaki Mail, Volume 26, 18 June 1919, Page 4

DEMOBILISATION.

AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND SYSTEMS. The publication of a booklet on the demobilisation of the Australian forces enables an interesting comparison to be made between the methods of New Zealand^and the neighbouring Commonwealth. There is a great daal of similarity between the systems, but in some important respects New Zealand offers its soldiers advantages over those afforded the Australians. For instance, there is no four weeks' free railway passes ssued in Australia, where the soldier is simply given a •free pass to his home. Our men get this and may commence to use their privilege rail pass later. If an Australian wishes to go into an enlistment dis- ! trict other than that in which he enj listed, he is informed .that he must-ex-poet delay in completing his pay. Under the centralised fur New Zealand system there is no necessity for delay through this cause. Supplementary } pensions are paid in both conn tries, the Australian maximum being £•'! 17s per week, while the New' Zealand maximum is £T>. The contrast is more notable in connection ivitli the disembarkation procedure.' Australian soldiers are required to proceed from the ship to a depot for medical examination, and they are officially exhorted to be patient in conjucction with this inspection. New Zea-land-'disposes of the whole matter on the ship, enabling the soldier —unless he. requires medical treatment—to leave for home and not again go near s defence office. The same rates of sustenance are paid in both countries to soldiers who have Tailed to obtain a position after discharge, while Australia also pays ti sustenance allowance of o« per day during the leave prior to discharge, which ii, the case of 191-1 men is a period oj (it) days unless they have i'itken leave ihroad. The other Australian soldiers .ei 71 days' leave for every six months' service, with a minimum of 14 .lavs. New Zealand's system gives all soldiers 2S days'leave on Cull pay. irrespective of 14 days' leave abroad if railway-und shipping facilities will permit The AustralianJmiuiing provision is for an advance up to £7(11) at. ti per cent., including a- sinking fund which pays off Hie loan ill -7 years. New Zealand has' a system of advances up to £750 at 7 per cent., which pays oli the loan in 2oi years, or £IOOO if it is necessary to buy a site and house. COMPLAINTS BY SOME OP THE MEN. Many of the Main Body men and others who have served very lengthy periods complain bitterly of the way in which the soldiers are being demobilised. As showing how the present

system works we quote from a letter received by an Otaki friend from Sergeant Pat. .Ferguson, of Otaki. He

"Am just going to give you an idea of the demobilisation here. Last boat, the Kaikoura', took up to and including Hie <ith Reinforcements, but no man above*lhe rank of corporal, unless he had compassionate leave; so Main llody officers above rani; of sergeant had to remain here. Now comes another boat, taking the remainder of the men up to titli Reinforcements, again excluding sergeants and officers of higher grade. . . . Some of the recalled have just landed here and never been to Palestine, yet they are getting home before the Main Body sergeants and other officers. 3; is a shame and breaks a tnanjs heart. "Here is a good instance of the injustice of tilings:—A chap enlisted ill Xew Zealand, and got a nice cushy job driying General Robin's ear for a few months. He then wont to Australia for a few weeks, and on arrival in Egypt got a nice job in the orderly room, which lasted for three months. Afterwards' he acred as a batsman for a,few .lays. Now wo se.e that this man is returning to New Zealand. Yet people turn round and say we arc getting a fair spin!"