LEAVE FOR MEN IN CAMP.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 December 1917, Page 6

LEAVE FOR MEN IN CAMP.

NEW REGULATIONS, TRAINING MUST NOT'BE INTERFERED WITH. Wellington, Dec. 4. The withdrawal of men from the Expeditionary Force training camps has assumed such dimensions as to prejudicially afl'ect the training of the men -and the efficiency and due despatch of reinforcement drafts. This 1 rouble is accentuated by the fact that the great majority of applications is from soldiers whose training is almost completed, and who are' upon thp eve of embarkation. It cannot bp too clearly understood and emphasised that,, once a. man lifts pilfered into camp, his course of training should not be disturbed at any time, unless for the most- grave and urgent reasons. His training is undertaken in the shortest possible time, and is based upon a definite syllabus, the emission of any part of which renders the individual, and consequently his company, less efficient- than they might have been. It follows, therefore, that training should not be interfered with at any stage.Every reservist called up for service has the right to appeal for exemption on any of the grounds laid down in thr> Military Service Act. His necessities should be thoroughly investigated by the Military Service Board 'before he goes into camp, and not l n ft for consideration after lie has commenced his. training. This question of leave from camps lias been recently under consideration, and it has •been decided that- applications by soldiers for leave up to fourteen days will be dealt with by tlie camp commandants in camp, and that applications for leave for over fourteen days will be- referred by the com]) authorities to the Third Wellington Military Service Board for decision.

Many cases have arisen where men or their wives Have applied for leave on account of approaching confinement. A recent, conference of chairman of Military Service Boards has affirmed the following -as the principle on which they will act if such oases are brought before them: If the confinement is due while the soldier is undergoing training, lie may be granted fourteen days-' leave with pay for the event. if the njmfin-emcnt is due within two months' of the date of departure of -his reinforcement he .will be detained in the Dominion until after the event, and may lie granted fourteen

days' leave with pay for ft. As confinement, ca«es will tie treated on this definite principle it is considered unnecessary to refer applications of this kind to the Military Service Board. The camp commandants will deal with these cases and will act in conformity with this principle upon the medical evidence which must, be submitted in support of each case. Applications are of the following categories: (a) Application from the man himself in eamp. This application must be made only on the form provided in camp and must be transmitted through the camp authorities to tho Military Service Board. The Board will not consider any 'application through any other channel whatsoever. On application from a soldier in the 33rd Reinforcements will be received after the 10th December. (b) Application from the employer. Only the public interest can justify the release of a soldier from camp at the request of an employer whether farmer..manufacturer, or otherwise.

Recent events have shown unmistakably that the great majority of applications are by or on -behalf of men engaged in the agriculture and pastoral industries. It can be taken for granted that the necessity for leave can be foreseen ana that there can be no hardships, therefore, in insisting that applications must be made two clear months before the soldiet's training ends. It. is proposed to publish frtun time to tini" the last, day on which applications will be received in respect of soldiers in a particular reinforcement. An exception is bejng made .in respect of the 33rd Reinforcements. Application for soldiers in this draft will not. be considered if received later than December 10. It is quite anticipated that at any time before the sailing'of a draft urgent, cases may arise by reason of sudden emergency as deafli, serious ' illness or some other cause ».'hich"could not have been foreseen. These emergency applications will be received (at any time and if urgency is established will be considered. J.ALLEN, -'Minister of Defence.

A GIBE AT DAD Johnny: "'Dad, why 13 ARCADIA -like the next letter in .the alphabet to S?" Dad groans. Johnny: "Because it's : a capital TEA! See?" Dad forgives the truthful boy.