HELPING DISCHARGED SOLDIERS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14841, 19 February 1919, Page 3

HELPING DISCHARGED SOLDIERS.

_». ; THE NEW REGULATIONS. (Special to the Herald.) - WELLINGTON, this day. The Repatriation Board has issued a' memorandum on the functions of' district boards and local committees, whicii contains important details of the assistance, proposed to be given to discharged soldiers. The boards may grant loans up to £300 for the purchase of business, plant, etc., by a soldier or a soldier's widow. No interest is to be charged on the first £50, the remainder at 5 per cent. Repayment within 10 years is to be on terms considered suitable by the board. Recommendations may be made by the district boards or local committees for the commencement or expansion of businesses and industrial undertakings giving employment to soldiers. Unemployed soldiers may be granted sustenance allowance up *to such an amount as will ensure a weekly income of 425, inclusive of pensiqp, or to a solder with a wife 525, with a wife and one 'child 65s 6d, a wife 'and two children 595, a wife and three children 62s 6d. a wife and four children 665. Free tuition, with sustenance allowance as above, may be granted, together with tuition allowance of 8s weekly for applicants desiring education and training m special schools of State institutions, or as students for professional or commercial occupations. A sustenance allowance will be granted an apprentice completing a term, making his income £3, inclusive of wages and pension, also to approved trainees m private workshops, factories, etc. Soldiers' widows without children requiring training m useful occupations may similarly benefit by a grant, bringing their total income to 35s weekly. Educational fees may be paid by the department for any discharged soldier. A loan not exceeding. £50 may be granted without interest to a soldier or soldier's widow for the purchase of furniture, or to a soldier for the purchase of tools and equipment necessary to exercise his calling. Free passages may be given to incapacitated soldiers desiring return to their friends beyond New, Zealand, if satisfactory assurance regarding their maintenance is forthcoming. Similar facilitates' will- be given to a soldier's widow desiring, to return or leave the Dominion. Soldiers sent to a place of employment may have their railway fares paid.