ON THE TRANSPORT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17659, 24 June 1919, Page 2

ON THE TRANSPORT

SETTLING SOLDIERS' ACCOUNTS. During this year the Defence Department brought into operation a system of paying returning soldiers on the transport so as to enable them generally to' leave for their homes with'almost the whole of the money due to them up to the date of their discharge. This is another chain in the series of arrangement designed to complete the demobilisation process with the arrival ol the transport in New Zealand. Every account is made up to a date of 40 days later than the date of leaving England this being tho approximate _ duration of the voyage. At least one pay is made in cash during the trip? generally just before arriving at the first port of call, and just prior to disembarkation the balance of active service pay due to the soldier, plug an advance of £10 in the case of officers and nurses, or £5 to other ranks, together with the pay-books, is handed over. Thus the troops land fully .paid up to a date 40 days later than their departure from England, and with an advance which' is covered by the period of their leave on full pay, leaving tWm a rule with a small credit to collect from the pay branch of the department at their discharge. . Unless there is a Heavy run of disembarkations the Pay Office is able to make up the soldier's account? complete to the date of discharge about _10 . days after arrival, the credit balance being remitted to him by warrant to the address given by the soldier before disembarkation. There are some cases of delay where, owing to the records from abroad. coming to hand in an incomplete state, various inquiries have to be made, but in the mam the Defence Department has evolved a system of rapidly clearing up its pay obligations to tho returning soldier.