RETURNED OFFICERS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CVIII, Issue 16801, 4 April 1919, Page 11

RETURNED OFFICERS.

GAZETTING OUT; MEDICAL MEN RETAINED, Au important statement with regard to the gazetting out of returned officers was made by Sir James Allen. Minister for Defence, to a "Times" representative on Monday. There has been, said the-Minister, some criticism of the Defence Department to the effect, that returned officers are not• being gazetted out ', after their twenty-eight days' ■ leave ok full pay, unlike the ordinary soldiers, who are discharged after their four weeks' return leave. That is not so, however except in two instances. Officers are given notice on the ship that they will be struck off at the end of their twenty-eight days'leave ..on full- •• pay/, except-those requiring medical treatment. who. as in the case of the rank and file, are.sent.to hospitals, or treats od as outj-patientsi The; only other exception is in the case of medical officers, who are reqtured to report to ithe Director-General of Medical Services. The reason , for this is that we have to treat soldiers in < our hospitals, several.of which are under the control o£ the Defence Administration; and it is.j essential that we should ; keep . ,a . sufficient number of medical officers to properly care for these patients.. That is" why they haye'toreporfc, to the Director-General of i Medical - Services before they get their discharge. Some of these medical men have had special training in the United Kingdom - for dealing with sick and wounded soldiers* and we are bound, to hold them if We ape to do our duty to these men. I am pleased to_ say; that in every in-, ■stance the, medical officers are"'meeting ijj if in the proper spirit, and remaining us at considerable sacrifice so f|r. as their future practice is ooncSrned. The whole matter was discussed at 'the recent Medical Conference at.. which I informed these -saa'edical: officers thsttT would do all I coiiftl for them, botli during,.the time that-their services are - retained by us - and after they leave us ; and that, so far as I ahle to do so.v:l vWofild p—^e'^th'eir interests when they came to st rt practice., ¥