SOLDIERS' LIABILITIES

Otago Witness, Issue 3280, 24 January 1917, Page 5

SOLDIERS' LIABILITIES

GOVERNMENT UNDERTAKE TO HELP. DETAILS OF THE SCHEME. WELLINGTON, January 16. The regulations providing for tho granN ing of special relief to tho men of the New Zealand Expeditionary Forces in respect ta their civil obligations were approved -it a, meeting of the Executive Council to-day,' and were issued Liter in tho form of a ' Gazette Extraordinary. They provide thai over and above, a soldier's present pay and. separation allowance ho may receive special financial assistance up to £2 a week in dis£ charge of the following obligations: —A,, rent; B, interest and instalments payable in; respect to loans and mortgages; C, interest | and instalments payable in respect to agree* J ments for tho purchaso of dwelling-houses. 1 business premises, furniture, etc.; D. rates, and i»xes; E, insurance premiums; r, cxv pensce incurred in respect to tho mainten« \ anco of his business during his military; service. Tho new provisions apply equally) to the men at present eervinsr, future. voluntary recruits, and men called up in tho ballot. The new provisions are on thai lines of recruiting granted at Home. A. soldier in the New Zealand Expeditionary I Force may now receive up to tho following weekly rates : 4 Wife only, 82s. Wife and' ono child. 87s 6d. Wife and two children, 92s 6d. Wife and three children, 97s Bd. Wife and four children, .103 s. Wife and fivo children, 108 s 3d. * Separation allowance in some cases is being paid to men with a wifo and fivo children, but voluntary enlistment at present is restricted to men not having more than three children. Tho chief provisions of the new regulations providing additional pay in cases of hardship arc these: When any reservist called) up for service, or required to show cause why he should not be called up, appeals to the Military Service Board on the ground that, by reason of domestic circumstances, or for any other reason, his calling up woulc* be a cause, of undue hardship -the board/ shall, in determining the appeal, take into \ consideration the scheme of financial assist- ' anco provided by these regulations. If the board is satisfied that, apart from tho said scheme of financial assistance, tho calling up of tho reservist would bo a cause of undue hardship, but that such hardship is of such a nature that it can bo avoided by' a grant of financial assistance under these regulations, the board shall make to tho Minister of Defence a recom« mendarion for a grant of such financial asv sistance as is considered reasonable and sufficient