LEAVE FOR MEN IN CAMP.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 145999, 4 December 1917, Page 3

LEAVE FOR MEN IN CAMP.

(NEW REGULATIONS. TRAINING MUST NOT BE INTERFERED WITH. V PER PRESS ASSOCIATION. WELLINGTON, Dec. 3. The withdrawal of men I'rOm tho Expeditionary Force training camps has assumed such dimensions as to prejudicially ali'ect tho training of the men ami The efficiency and due dispatch of reinforcement drafts. This trouble is accentuated by the fact that the great majority of applications is from soldiers whose training is almost completed, and who are upon tho eve of embarkation. It cannot bo too clearly understood and emphasised that, once a man has entered camp, his course of training should not bo disturbed at any time, unless for the most grave and argent reasons. His training is undertaken in the shortest possible time, and is based upon a definite syllabus, the omission of any part of which renders tho individual, and consequently his company, less efficient than they might have been. It follows, therefore, that training should not be interfered with at any stage. Every reservist called up for service has the right of appeal for exemption on any of tho grounds laid down in the Military Service Act. His necessities should bo thoroughly investigated by the Military Service Board before ho goes into camp, and not left for consideration after ho has commenced his training. This question of leave from camps has been recently under consideration, and it has been decided that applications by soldiers for leave up to fourteen days will be dealt with by tho Camp Commandants in camp, and that applications for leave for over fourteen days will bo referred by the camp authorities to the Third Wellington Military Service Board for decision. Many cases have arisen whore men or their wives have applied for leave on account of approaching confinements. A recent conference of chairmen of Military Service Boards has affirmed the following as the principle on which they will act if such cases are brought before them; —

If tho confinement is due while the soldier is undergoing training, he may be granted fourteen days’ leave with pay for the event. If the confinement is due within two months of the date of departure of his reinforcement ho will bo detained in the Dominion until after tho event, and may be granted fourteen days’ leave with pay for it.

As confinement cases will be treated on this definite principle it is considered unnecessary to refer applications of this kind to the Military Service Board. Tho Camp Commandants will deal with these cases and will act in conformity with this principle upon the medical evidence which must bo submitted in support of each case. Applications are of the following categories ;

(a) Application from the man himself in camp. This application must be made only on the form provided in camp and must bo transmitted through the camp authorities to tho Military Service Board’! The board will not consider any application through any other channel whatsoever. No application from a soldier in the 33rd ileinforcements will be received after December 10. (b) Application from the employer. Only the public interest can justify the release of a soldier from camp at the request of an employer, whether farmer, manufacturer, or otherwise.

Recent events have shown unmistakably that the great majority of applications arc by or on behalf of men engaged in the agricultural and pastoral industries. It can be taken for granted that the necessity for leave can bo foreseen and that there can be no hardships, therefore, in insisting that applications must he made two clear months before the soldier’s training ends. It is proposed to publish from time to time the last day on which applications will be received in respect of soldiers in a particular reinforcement. An exception is being made in respect of tho 33rd Reinforcements. Application for soldiers in this draft will not be considered later than December 10. It is quite anticipated that at any time before tho sailing of a draft urgent cases may arise by reason of sudden emergency, such as death, serious illness, or some other cause which csuld not have been foreseen. These emergency applications will be received at any time and if urgency is established'will he considered. J. ALLEN, Minister bf Defence.