DISABLED SOLDIERS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 137, 12 June 1922, Page 7

DISABLED SOLDIERS.

THE COUNTRY'S PLEDGES. DUTY OF THE GOVEKKXIEMT. (By Telegranii.—Press Association.) VViEIjLINXtTOX, Sunday. The question of uneiDployment among ex-soldiers was discussed u.t to-tlny» .session of the annual conference of tne Now Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association. Kegarding disabled men, the conflerenee resolved: —While we appreciate the efforts made by the Government, the local bodies and some of our people to lind work for disabled soldiers, our opinion is that tlie country is failing fully to discharge the pledges given to thpse men while any dwa'bled soldiers are out of work; therefore, our opinion is that it is the duty of tlie Government immediately to lind employment for all deserving disabled soldiers out of work; as these men are permanently disabled, it is desirable that permanent, employment be found in the vtirwus Oovertiment services. Until arrangement* can be made to place these men in permanent positions, temporary employment should he found for as many us possible in (a) the Electoral Rolls Department; (I)) messengers, clerks, and all other servants employed during session-, (c) any other suitable temporary work «.s it occurs. The committee protests against superannuated Civil servants who are- not returned s-oldiers being employed in any Government department or during session while disabled so.viliers are idle. Regarding unemployment among fit returned men it was decided to urge the Government to allocate a reasonable proportion of the ,t;25O,00O devoted to unj employment for the purposes of treeplanting in the various districts, such employment to be limited to men unfitted for heavy work. The local nssociations are to be urged to set up unemployment committees in each centre where unemployment is acute, ".onsisting of representatives from city councils, employers' association* , , farmers' unions, trades and labour councils, repatriation hoards and kindred 'bodies, such committees to meet weekly during the winter in ordeT to decide the best methods ot opening up avenues t>f employment in their respective districts. Tt was decided to urjip the Government, local bodies and private employers to take immediate steps to provide work for unemployed fit returned soldwrs. ATTITUDE OF DEPARTMENT. The Minister of Defence, Sir Heaton Khodee, and the Director-General ot Medical Services, Sir Donald McGavin, explained to the Returned Soldiers' Association conference the policy of the Government regarding the opinions aX medical men upon disabilities in exsoldier*. It had been complained that the Defence Department constantly failod to recognise the value of the signed (statement.-- of medical men tracing soldiers' disabilities to war service. Sir Donald McGavin denied that the Department was slaok in its methods. Every eas»a received proper consideration. It wiie not correct that the DireotorOneral of Medical Services alone made decisions. Decision rested with the War Pensions Roard. Medical certitic-.iter. were certainly of essential value. Doctors were required to state their reasons for their recommendation. In all mental cases the medical history sheet was obtained frrmi the superintendent of the hospital. This enoMed the Director-Gonoral of Medical Services to judge how lon X the disease had been ill existence. Sometimes he found that the doctors examining soldiers were not aware of the war history of the patient. Doctors had certified shell -hoc-k in men •who had never got further than Kngliiml. Tlie Minister denied (hat any direction or suggestion was ever mad'o by the Director-General of Medical Services that as a means of economy the board should minimise the- number of pensions planted. The Pensions ami Medical Appeal Boards were quite indepcndeivt nf action by Parliament or Cabinet The Cabinet a« a whole sympathised with the interests of returned soldiers. The conference decided it would be unwise to press the matter further