OVERSEAS DISCHARGES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12569, 5 March 1919, Page 6

OVERSEAS DISCHARGES.

THE CONDITIONS. • (Special to the “ Star.”) WELLINGTON, March, o. Applications by members of the New Zealand Jtxpeditionary force for discharge in England have become numerous, no tower than ninety having to bo dealt with at Base Records in ono clay recently. There is an excellent reason tor some oi these discharges, as tho soldier utilises his time in England to •improve ins knowledge of the business ;n which ho urns engaged as a civilian. Unis the Dominion gains Jrom tho increased efficiency of these enterprising men. and the Defence Department throws no obstacle in their way, so long us their dependents are not prejudiced. It the time required for picking up tins knowledge, is not more than throe mouths, the soldier may secure leave for this period, one mouth on full pay, aud the remainder without pay. However. a discharge overseas has to bq siuijeet to several important provisions, as tlm dependents in Now Zealand must be considered. • Allotments are suspended upon receipt of tho cabled request for discharge, and 'they ceasealtogether 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, fide- of Hie application, and it is j only granted uiheu the authorities are ! satisfied that the reason is sound. | In cases of discharge abroad in lien , of return to New Zealand in normal sequence, the application is cabled to New Zealand at the applicant's ex- I penso, and the Defence Department in- i vostigates the position from the view- | point of the soldier’s dependents. The j written approval of the next of kin is ! required, and if there l are dependents I the Government requires a legal guar- i autee that the iStato will be under no ! liability for their maintenance ns a I result of the soldier’s discharge over- I seas. 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 coin- ! pletc, tho approval for discharge is j cabled to England. The same l precautions on behalf of dependents are taken j in cases of application for immediate discharge. j If the discharged soldier returns lo New Zealand within twelve mouths, he will bo entitled lo receive in a lump sum tiie amount which tho Government would have paid for his passage from England to New Zealand, had he travelled with his unit on the transport. j

A recent, visitor to the Bay of Islands i '.‘alls attention to the condition of the 1 Marsden Cross. the memorial erected on the spot where the first Christian missionary to -New Zealand preached nn Christmas Day. 1814, and held service (says the ''Pest"). The ha.se, of the shaft, or column, is intact, hut the cross itself (of Celtic form) lies in fragments at i.he foot. If appears to have ' been attached to the shaft by two steel or iron dowels, and cemented, but in the course of time the cross, which could not have been securely fastened, ‘“wobbled” in the wind, and during a. particularly severe blow was pushed oil', falling to the ground and being shattered in pieces. What remains”intact, now is an obelisk, which does not express. tiie. Christian character of the memorial, and which it signifies. Ti„, dowels themselves were inaccessible. They were bent in the direction of the place where the cross fell. The holes into which they fitted, however, are not. more than six inches deep. There is a flaw in the shaft- itself, acd tin's was covered np with ''ament. Time has revealed tl w d i'feci