THE SOLDIER.

Taihape Daily Times, 15 January 1919, Page 5

THE SOLDIER.

PRIVILEGES UPON RETURN. A GOVERNMENT HANDBOOK WELLINGTON, this day. The First Demobilisation Edition of the Returned Soldiers' Handbook has been issued. The handbook has undergone a thorough pruning which is to its advantage, as the returning soldier has usually so much to occupy his attention, so many personal interests, that he 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 Nummary, a handy pamphlet. is to be given to every returning soldier while on the ship, and he may obtain the full copy of the regulations on application. A little later it is proposed to issue a special chapter for the guidance of the men before they set foot in New Zealand. For the benefit of the soldiers' relatives, who are almost as much interested in his privileges as the soldier himself, we give a brief outline of the privileges to which the returned soldier is entitled, quoting from the Handbook, "which ets everything out fully' and which will be a valuable guide to patriotic societies and other organisations concerned with the men's welfare.

Before disembarking, the soldier obtains an advance of pay amounting to £5,- if* available, though if he is sent direct to hospital, the advance is £l.

Except those who have been return- ' cd for punishment, or, who contracted disease through their own action, returning soldiers receive before discharge a warrant entitling them to free railway travelling for a period of 28 days. This must be used within three months following the date of the commencement of the 28 days' leave on full pay which they receive on disembarkation, prior to discharge. Invalided soldiers obtain this privilege when their treatment is complete. Prior to discharge, the soldier must travel in uniform, but if he uses the pass after discharge, when he wears mufti, he must carry Ins discharge certificate, to prove bona fides, While travelling on the pass, the soldier is entitled to free meals where trains stop for this purpose. The New Zealand steamship companies have generously joined with the Government in this conco'ssion to the extent of granting the returned soldier return tickets for single fare. The companies which grant this privilege are the Union Steam Ship Co., Huddart Parker Ltd., Northern Steamship Co., Richardson and. Co., Anchor Shipping Co., and Wairau Steamship Co. In cases where the soldier has received 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 soldiers' health. This will enable him to visit his relatives before undergoing hospital treatment. There are eases in which the sick leave privilege cannot be extended. -Then the wife and parents are given free railway passes to the town in which the hospital is situated. Applications for these passes must be made to Base Records. Where there is no wife or parent, one warrant will be 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. 1/6 per day, though allotments go 'on "ss usuai. The balance is paid him as soon as be leaves the hospital. The provisions regarding discharge arc best given in full as they appear in the Handbook.

(a) If medical treatment is not required the soldier will receive twenty eight 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 the Expeditionary Force, during such time as he continues to require medical treatment >as an inpatient of a hospital or convalescent home. (c) Out-patients will be discharged when a Medical Board considers that they are able to undertake some civil employment and recommends discharge.