THE SOLDIERS' GUIDE.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXVI, Issue 7567, 10 May 1919, Page 7

THE SOLDIERS' GUIDE.

DEFENCE DEPARTMENT'S PUBLICATION.

WELLINGTON, May 8. When the tide of voluntary recnuting was at its height, the Defence Department and the National Recruiting Board received constant inquiries from intending soldiers as to their pay, the conditions of enlistment, physical standard, outfit, etc. Owing to the subdivision of the various activities, so as to enable them to be efficiently carried out on a. large scale, it -was necessary to inquire of several Government olJices before the soldier could set all the information he often requirecf. To i»«vt this position, the Hon. Sir James Allen directed the preparation of "The Recruits' Handbook," which gave sue. cintly, in clear language, the neoessury details desired by most recruits. Now the war is over, the Minister of Defence has made the same provision fcr the returned soldier. From 'all departments of the State a journalist has collected information regarding the privileges and concessions available to soldiers and their dependents. They have been ?ot out carefully, so as to cover the three important stages of demobilisation —Overseas, Before Discharge, and After Discharge. In a carefully indexed booklet of handy size there are sixty pages detailing the order of return from abroad, the assistance given to soldier's wives, fiancees and children in the way of passage-money grants and advice upon arrival; the educational scheme in England and concessions to scholars wishing to complete their education abroad; the procedure on disembarkation in New Zealand; travelling concessions; provision of artificial limbs and other appliances, medical I treatment before and after discharge (with description of the treatments at twenty hospitals directly under Dtefence Department control); the curative and vocational training system in hospitals; pay and allowances, including retrospective separation allowance ; | the Soldif rs' Financial Assistance j se cemcw,hhi

schema, which has been made retrospective for men who were serving abroad when the scheme was initiated; war pensions; the Reparation Board's organisation and facilities given by it to returned soldiers; particulars of course at State Farms, and expert advice on Jigricultural subjects available to soldier settlers: land settlement opportunities including the financing cf land purchases and the buying or building of dwellings; educational bursaries for soldiers dosiring technical or other education; the conditions affectiny soldiers who are members ot Public Service; issue of war medals; protection from legal action; and a number of other matters of importance to tho returned soldier. A clearly writ, ten outline of all concessions is given, and the booklet contains directions for obtaining further details when they are desired.

" When the whole of these activities are realised," states the introduction, '' it is to he hoped that a y perusal of this necessarily brief summary wjU lead to a realisation that a tremendous amount of work has been done to lighten the material sacrifices of our men, and that the end of the war does not by any means mark the cessation of the State's interest in the welfare of its soldiers." Every returning soldier from the present dato will receive a copy of the Guide on the transport, and nil others will be able to obtain it gratis from Defence Offices and Base Records, Wellington.