UNFIT SOLDIERS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21092, 12 May 1943, Page 4

UNFIT SOLDIERS

ARMY DISCHARGES

MEIVI BACK FROM ABROAD PROCEDURE EXPLAINED (P.A.) CHRISTCHURCH. May 12.

Considerable progress ' has' -been made With the discharge: of men who have returned from overseas classed .'medically unfit ’ for. active service, Stated‘the- '‘Prime-Minister, 'the Rt. Hon. P; Eraser, 'in reply to a recent inquiry. ' (‘The procedure adopted,’’ said Mr. Fraser, “has .been'fob the cases of these' men to be' reyi'eyved, with' few exceptions, in order of "their return to'-Neyy'ZealandY The review is carried opt .by a'special medical board. '“Up to December inen concerned" hfintbered "approximately 6000/ "(To date ( the .files' of 'Three'quacters of this number ,'hhve been examined “by "the' .hoSr'd ' lin'd it" is expected" that the inquiry Will'be completed .towards' .the end of this "month. Tlie'case’s of (those who bavb'retu'fhed since' Decembdv 15 will then be" considered-." 'These Then are' graded HIP and " the fotajl ’ ffumbdr so "fab discharged, including ,Glade IV meh ,W,h’o are p’drindtienuy unfit "for active "service, ''ds’’roughly ItDOOI ‘‘Wiien "discharge is decided on. the meri "affected' arc notified 'and .Base Records'sends Ihcm warrants for' deferred pay. Discharges are deferred in (lie case of men'’who,'in ,the view of th'c 'medical board', may' .be "graded .higher ,tHah HIP 1 ." .The’'issue of parchment ‘certificates of discharge ,to Which discharged men are ''entitled 'is being made' as' 'expeditiously' w 'as possible, although it byßl .be'some time befeii’e this obligation 'ls "'fitffiliecT.' It' is agreed (that" discharged" "men should feb'eive fhese 'degtificafes at" the earliest' 1 possibles dft’te, blit' pending their receipt the men would suffer little embarrassment seeing“that they have received notices of discharge and their deferred pay .warrants;” '