RETURNED SERVICEMEN

Greymouth Evening Star, 8 March 1943, Page 4

RETURNED SERVICEMEN

PAY AND REGRADINGS. WELLINGTON, March 8. Replying to the Dominion Executive Committee of the N.Z.R.S.A., regarding deferred pay to t returned military personnel, the Director of Base Records states: “Personnel on return from overseas and graded four have been paid the amount due. The cases of personnel from overseas and placed in the area pool on leave without pay are to be reviewed in order of return to the Dominion by a branch of the Army Headquarters, and if evidence discloses these personnel are by reason of their medical condition unlikely to be fit for further military service, they will be graded. This office will be advised and the necessary machinery is in readiness (1) to issue a warrant for the amount of deferred pay and (2) to issue a discharge certificate. If the review concerning an individual does not place him in Grade HIP or IV, then he remains in the area pool and deferred pay becomes payable when he is no longer required for military service. This may conceivably be at the conclusion of hostilities.

“Certain Grade 111 personnel are serving in the temporary staff and will not receive deferred pay meanwhile, unless they are reclassified HIP or IV. It is understood that the review is under way, and expedition will be given when lists and decisions reach here. “Ail cases of deceased soldiers, where this office, prior to the Government’s decision to grant deferred pay, had finalised matters with the administrators of estates, have been reviewed, and the amount of deferred pay has been paid out. In future, where personnel or administrators of deceased soldiers’ estates are entitled to deferred pay, the amounts will be included in the final payments, and is thus an automatic action.

“Classes not yet entitled to issue of deferred pay are personnel returned from overseas service, Grades I and 11, and Grade 111, not reclassified as Grade HIP or IV.” The Dominion Executive Committee of the N.Z.R.S.A. received advice from the Minister in Charge of Rehabilitation (Mr. Semple) that in pursuance of uie terms of Section Three of the Rehabilitation Act, 1941, the Governor-General has appointed Mr. R. W. Fenton to be a member of the Rehabilitation Council. Mr. Fenton is an ex-serviceman from the present war. He left New Zealand with the First Echelon. Prior to that, he had extensive service with the territorial forces. Mr. Fenton is also a member of the Dominion Executive of the N.Z.R.S.A.