RELEASE AND RESETTLEMENT
Sta,—As a Serviceman who volunteered straight from school at the age of eighteen, I belong to that growing group who have had their education interrupted. In the course of our duties my ship has spent a week at Vancouver, and my personal interests led me to contact the Professor of Economics at the University of British Columbia (a Scotsman, of course!). He told-me that they had, starting the year's course, a number of students who were still in uniform (a liaison officer was attached to look after their -pay, &c.). They obtained their discharge automatically as their turn came round. It is a scheme' designed to help the university on its administrative-side, at the same time having the men under training as soon as possible.
I had previously made inquiries to the ship's Release and Resettlement officer (a sideline job for the engineer Lt.-commander), who told me that our Servicemen could do nothing until they were in " civvy street," when they should apply in the normal way, and to an -Appointments Office if they desired advice or financial assistance. I should have thought that our Government could have devised some similar scheme to that of the Canadians'.
Postal study in the Pacific is rather difficult because of the irregularity. At Hong Kong I received copies of The Spectator from July 27th to September 14th, inclusive. During our week's stay at Vancouver we were expecting some fresh mail coming across Canada, but apparently those at the Admiralty concerned with the movement of shipping and - the distribution of mail are not on speaking terms!
For Service reasons, I remain, Yours truly, PETTY OFFICER.
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