THE SOLDIERS' GUIDE.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 May 1919, Page 11

THE SOLDIERS' GUIDE.

DEFENCE DEPARTMENT'S' PUBLICATION.

Wellington, May 10When the tide of - voluntary recruiting was at its height, the Defence Department and the National Recruiting Board veceTved constant inquiries from intending soldiers as to their pay, the conditions of enlistment, physical standard, outfit, etc. Owing to the subdivision of the various activities, so as to enable them to be efficiently carried out on a large scale, it was necessary to inquire of several Government offices before the soldier could get all the information he often required. To meet this position, the Hon. Sir James Allen directed the preparation of "The "Recruits' ITandbook," which gave succintlv, in clear language, the necessary details desired by most recruits. Now the war is over, the Minister of Defence lias made the same provision for the returned soldier. From all departments of the, State a journalist has collected information regarding the privileges and concessions available to soldiers and their dependents. They have been set out carefully, so as to cover .the throe important stages of demobilisation—Overseas, Before Discharge, and After Discharge. In a carefully indexed booklet of handy size there are sixty pages detailing the order of return from abroad, the assistance given to soldier's wives, fiances and children in the way of passage njoney grants and advice upon arrival; the educational scheme in England and concessions to scholars wishing to complete their, education abroad; the procedure on disembarkation in New Zealand; travelling concessions; provision of artificial limbs and other appliances; medical treatment 'before and after discharge (with description of the treatments at twenty hospitals directly under Defence Department control); the curative and vocational training system in hospitals; pay and allowances, including retrospective separation allowance; the Soldiers' Financial Assistance scheme, which has been made retrospective for men who wore serving abroad when the scheme was initiated; war pensions; the ■Repatriation Board's organisation and facilities given by it to returned soldiers; particulars of courses at State farms, and export advice 011 agricultural subjects available to soldier settlers; land settlement opportunities, in - cluditir; the financing of land purchases and the buying or building of dwellings; educational bursaries for soldiers desiring technical 01- olher education; the conditions affecting soldiers who are members of the public service; issue of war medals; protection from legal action; and a number of other matters of importance to the returned soldier. A clearly written outline of al! concessions is given, and the booklet contains directions for obtaining further details when tliev are desired. "When the whole of these activities are realised," states the Introduction, ''it is to be hoped that a perusal of this nefressarilv brief summary will lead to a realisation that a tremendous amount of work has been done to lighten the materi?J sacrifices of our men, and that the end of the war does not hv any means mark the cessation of the State's interest in the welfare of its soldiers." Every returning soldier from tile present date will receive a copy of the Guide on the transport; and all other.* will be able to obtain it gratis from Defence offices and Base Records, Welling-