OVERSEAS DISCHARGES.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VI, Issue 1578, 5 March 1919, Page 8

OVERSEAS DISCHARGES.

THE CONDITIONS EXPLAINED. {Special to The Sun.l 'WELLINGTON, March 5. Applications by members of the New Zealand Expeditionary Eorce for discharge in England have become numerous, no fewer than 90 having to be dealt with at Base Records in one day recently. There is an excellent reason for some of these discharges, as the soldier utilises his lime in England to impi«vc his knowledge of the business in which he was engaged as a civilian. Thus the Dominion gains from the increased efficiency of these enterprising men, and the Defence Department throws no obstacle in their way so long as their dependents are not prejudiced. If the time required for picking up this knowledge is not more than three months, the soldier may secure leave for this period, one month on full pay, and the remainder without pay. However, a discharge overseas has to be subject to several important provisions, as the dependents in New Zealand must be considered. Allotments are suspended upon receipt of the cabled request for discharge, and they cease altogether on the actual date of discharge as notified from England after its approval.

If the soldier desires immediate discharge in England, inquiry has to be made in New Zealand regarding the bona fides of the application, and it is only granted when the authorities are satisfied that the reason Is sound.

In cases of discharge abroad, in lieu of return to New Zealand in normal sequence, the application is cabled to New Zealand at the applicant's expense, and the Defence Department investigates the position from the view-point of the soldier's dependents. The written approval of the next-of-kin is required, and if there are dependents, the Government requires a legal guarantee that the State will be under no liability for their maintenance as a result of the soldier's discharge overseas. This is enforced with a bond for £3OO. These provisions are designed to prevent hardship to dependents through the stoppage of allotments upon discharge. When the procedure is complete, the approval for discharge is cabled to England. The same precautions on behalf of dependents are taken in cases of application for immediate discharge. If the discharged soldier returns to New Zealand within twelve months, he will be entitled to receive in a lump sum the amount which the Government would have paid for his passage from England to NewZealand, had he travelled with his unit on the transport.