Coast- Watchers' Rehab Benefit's

Northern Advocate, 1 April 1946, Page 7

Coast- Watchers' Rehab Benefit's

(F.A.) WELLINGTON, This Day. The Rehabilitation Board has decided that Post and Telegraph Department employees who served in the Pacificon radio and coast-watching duties during the war should be regarded as servicemen within the meaning of the Rehabilitation Act. This entitles such personnel to apply for rehabilitation assistance. The men concerned, of whom there are less than 100, had. during their service been subject to military discipline, says, a statement issued by the Rehabilitation Department. The Army had been responsible for their uniforming, feeding and transportation, and provision of medical treatment. Their names were shown on embarkation rolls and they had files at Ease Recoi'ds. On discharge they were eligible for war pensions. However, various army privileges such as travel warrants, furlough and mufti allowances had not been granted thorn because they were on full civilian pay, with allowances, while serving. Some of the men had been away for as long as five years with long intervals between receiving mail from liome. The War Cabinet in July last year decided that soldiers’ privileges, including war gratuities, might at the discretion of the Minister of Defence be granted to men in this category who had served in dangerous areas such as the Gilbert and Ellice Island Group.