GRANTING OF LEAVE

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 13056, 26 January 1943, Page 2

GRANTING OF LEAVE

MEMBERS OF FORCES IN DOMINION Changes Announced By Minister Special Arrangements For Overseas Men (P.A.) Wellington, Jan. 23. Several important changes in the amount of furlough and special leave that may be granted to members of the military forces on full-time service in the Dominion were an : nounced to-night by the Minister of Defence, Mr Jones.

The principal changes provide an extension of the basis on which compassionate leave is ""allowed in the event of death or serious illness of a member of a soldier's family, longer furlough for members of the temporary staff, and much wider application of the granting of free travel warrants to personnel proceeding on leave. In addition, ordinary week-end leave on Saturday and Sunday, and evening leave will he granted as generously as possible.

Members of the Territorial Force may be granted seven days' furlough, plus half the travelling time between camp and home, for every two months' service, but this may be cancalled through the soldier being absent without leave for five days, whether consecutive or not, or reduced if less than five days. Men such as farmers doing limited service will not be entitled to furlough unless the period of service exceeds 12 weeks. If under 12 weeks, leave at the end of service will be at the rate of three days for each complete period of four weeks. Furlough for the temporary staff is based op each period of 12 months from November 1, 1942. Those living in camp receive 28 days' furlaugh, including travelling time, with not more than three free. travelling Avarrants to and from home. Furlough may be granted in one or more periods, at the discretion of the commanding officer, but may not accumulate from one period until another.

Furlough for members of the Army Nursing Service and the Women's Army Auxiliary Service will be on the same conditions, except that the leave period is 18 days, excluding Sundays and statutory holidays. Compassionate leave with full pay and free travelling Avarrants will be granted for the following reasons: Death or serious illness of mother, father, wife or child) 14 days; death or serious illness of sister or brother, seven days. Fourteen days' leave, plus travelling time, may be granted to a member of the service whose wife has been or is about to be confined. In certain cases an extension not exceeding 14 days may be granted, but unallotted pay ceases during the extension. Examination leave is provided to enable a man to sit for a university or other recognised examination. This will be for the period of the examination, and, in addition, a fortnight immediately prior to the examination may be allowed for preparation for such examination.

Special leave arrangements will be made from time to time for members of New Zealand Expeditionary Force reinforcement drafts.