INFLUENZA.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXIX, Issue 9492, 4 January 1919, Page 5

INFLUENZA.

DEATHS OF SOLDIERS.

PENSION PROBLEMS EXPLAINED

Mr. G. O. Fache, Commissioner of Pensions, has given to "Quick March" a clear explanation of the pension provision available in regard to the' deaths.of returned soldiers.during the, epidemic. It has been remarked (writes Mr. Fache) that the recent epidemio, in taking its toll from the people of the Dominion, has found a large percentage of ' its victims among the male population between the ages of twenty and fifty, arid by reason of this age period idosely harmonising with that required for military,. service, it is but natural that we have to mourn the loss of a large number of members of the Expeditionary Forces, both dia- ' charged and undischarged. ' | It was hard enough that the strong and healthy congregated in the various military camps should be blasted Dy the scourge, but doubly hard was it that, those who had returned to us from overseas; after having passed through the fiery furnace of the greatest war in history, should have to face with weakened .constitutions this further ordeal. ■ - - • ... It is with the view of stating, as far:! as is possible' at the present time, how far war service can be associated with death or • disablement from the epidemic that these few lines'are written. To the War Pensions Board, which has the administration of the war pensions legislation as its care, a problem has been set, the determination of which,. in all its phases, will have far-reach-ing "consequences.s For the purpose of considering the matter in all its bearings, a special meeting of., the board has already been held, at which typical instances from at-least seven,-ditV ferent classes, of, cases arising from the epidemic were dealt with,i and the enumeration of these will ho doiibt assist readers in Knowing what, there is to know: ■ ' ' ■'

To begin with, let it be stated, in regard to the widows and children of those who have lost their lives in camp while in receipt of military pay, that they ,are entitled as a matter of right to the full pension provided by the schedule of the .War Pensions Act, on application being made on the prescribed form to any Registrar of Pensions, or direct to the Commissioner of Pensions, Wellington. To any other dependents of these, the Act also applies with the usual conditions relating to dependence and means of support. . ■ , .

The classes of cases dealt with and the decisions arrived at were:—

(1) Soldier died in camp on military pay; application from widow.— Pension granted.

(2) Solder in military hospital from date of discharge, soldier and wife in receipt of full pension on' account of phthsis ' when husband died; application from widow.—Pension granted.

(3)' Soldier discharged six months and in receipt of ,three-fourihs pension for chest trouble, wife also receiving pension; died in temporary hospital-; application from widow.—Pension granted. (4) Soldier discharged eighteen months and.in receipt of three^ourths pension at death for chest trouble, wife's pension had ceased;'application from widow.'—Pension granted. -' - / (5) Soldier discharged six months' and in receipt of one-fourth pension for chest trouble,' aggravated by service; admitted to temporary hospital with influenza.—Full pension granted to husband and wife fort total disablement. :

(6) Soldier. discharged from overseas 18 months; applied for pension August, 1918, and appeared before board; found' to have no. disability, and, no pension granted; application, from widow.—Pension declined.

(7) Soldier discharged nine months, awarded final grant of one-fourth pension for injury to ankle"; no incapacity in August, 1918, , prior to death; application from mother.—Pension declined. It might he added that these decisions in specific cases do not necessarily apply to all cases which appear to be similar. Generally speaking, the board has decided that each case of death Imd disablement arising from the epidemic will have to be decided on its individual merits, on application being lodged.