AN EX-SOLDIER'S EXPERIENCE.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 274, 19 November 1927, Page 8

AN EX-SOLDIER'S EXPERIENCE.

On reading a letter in Saturday's "Star" signed "A Grateful Citizen" and "Unfortunate Ex-servicemen," I would like to mention my experience. I was invalided from France in 1918 and discharged three months later unfit for further service with a pension of £1 10/ for four months, which was reduced to £1 at the end of that period. A little later I had to appear before a specialist, who promptly reduced my pension to 10/, to ceate four months later, this in spite of the fact that I was not improved in health one iota. I saw another doctor in another town and mv pension was restored to 10/. I had this for the next two years and was then instructed to see another medical man in the same town. He was surprised to know I was only receiving 10/ per week and he had it increased to 15/ per week. I drew this for two years, and at the end of this time I was ordered to Wellington in May, 1923, to be examined by specialists. As a result my pension was cancelfed. although my health was worse than when I first returned to New Zealand. In 1924 I appeared before the War Pensions Appeal Board and my appeal was disallowed. Four weeks later l"had to enter a hospital and was operated on for the very trouble I had been receiving a pension for for five years. Subsequentlv I had to undergo further treatment. Now* at the end of 1927, I am struggling on under the handicap of indifferent health, which makes it very difficult to keep going. My earning capacityis reduced fifty per cent, and as time goes on it will be further reduced. I am a married man with a family. If it had not been for the kindness of a few friends I would not have been able to carry on. It is little satisfaction to the suffering ex-soldier to see expensive war memorials being erected all over the country. EX-DIGGER.