HELPING THE SOLDIERS.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 83, 7 April 1919, Page 5

HELPING THE SOLDIERS.

LONDON, April G.

ASSISTANCE FROM THE STATE.

The Press Bureau states that the Ministry of Pensions announces that the Government has now recognised the obligation to assist from the State funds demobilised and discharged officers and men who joined the forces after the outbreak of war, in order that they may be enabled to restart business. The assistance will be either in periodical payments to meet current obligations like rent, insurance premiums, school fees and mortgage obligations, or in a lump sum for the purchase of stock-in-trade, shop fittings, etc.

Officers and men of British nationality, ordinarily domiciled overseas, serving in the United. Kingdom forces, are eligible for the facilities olfered by the Home Government for higher education at the universities or at agriculture offices and works. A limited number ordinarily domiciled in the United Kingdom will be assisted in courses in the Dominions. The Board of Education's portion of the scheme enables qualified oversea cx-scrvice officers and men to pursue a course at a university in the United Kingdom, while others ordinarily domiciled in the United Kingdom will bo assisted in their studies in overseas universities, or, in exceptional cases, in foreign universities.

There are 3,000 Australian officers and men participating in the educational scheme. One hundred and thirty Australian military doctors have been afforded opportunities of securing English diplomas, while 107 nurses are learning domestic hygiene and kindred sciences. Soldiers taking their discharge in England will receive the same leave on full pay as those discharged in Australia.— (A. and N.Z. Cable.)