ASSISTANCE TO SOLDIERS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 267, 10 November 1937, Page 6

ASSISTANCE TO SOLDIERS.

THE QUESTION OF FITNESS.

(To the Editor.)

I am one of hundreds of returned soldiers on sustenance whose paj>ers are .-narked "Soldier —unfit for heavy work." Under the previous Government all soldiers on sustenance |were medically examined and tho*e classed junfit for heavy work were sent into ragwort I camps in the King Country. This labour I Government abolished all such camps and put 'us on to sustenance. Our papers at the J Unemployment Bureau are still marked ■ "Soldier —unfit for heavy work." This surely 'demonstrates the point that we are unfit !soldiers. 1 have never applied for a. pension, knowing full well that one these days has to have one leg in the grave before standing a chance of success. Out of my weekly sustenance I pay 1<»/ weekly board and 1/ weekly lon a death policy, thus leaving me:</ per | week with which to buy clothes, boots and I medicine. I recently appeared before a board lat the Auckland Patriotic Society, hoping I | would at least be lucky enough to get 10/ or more towards, some Christmas clothing. But I was sadly mistaken. Mr. Andrews informed me I was not entitled to any financial assistance because I was not in receipt of a pension. He also very emphatically stated that wherea-a I was on sustenance I was a fit man. as only fit men were entitled to sustenance. How can this be explained? Thousands of returned soldiers in Xew Zealand drawing pensions were also drawing sustenance. If these men were fit what are they doing drawing pensions? Mr. Andrews stated that I, not being in receipt of a pension, was not entitled to assistance from the Patriotic Society. During the last 15 years I have not drawn a pension, yet the Auckland Patriotic Society granted me over I that period the sum of £5. It seems now as if previous officers of the board have erred in their duty or else they were human. In conclusion, we sadly misguided soldiers on sustenance will appreciate an explanation. CHEERLESS CHRISTMAS. [The letter was referred to the secretary of the Auckland Provincial Patriotic and War Relief Association, who pointed out that there were various forms of relief offering for men of the type described. If "Cheerless Christmas" had been a front-line returned man and was disabled through any cause he was eligible for the war veterans' pension; if his disability was due to w-ar service, he was entitled to the disabled soldiers' pension. In this case it was probable that the applicant had been refused assistance because the Claims Board lhad no knowledge of any war disability suffered by the_ applicant. His claim would be reconsidered if lie could furnish proof of such disability. If he felt his disability was due to war service and wished to prove it, tile board would probably submit him to an examination by their medical officer. Explaining the £5 which the correspondent said he had received from the fund, the secretary said that sometimes relief was given to applicants until such time as their case was, thoroughly examined. Most of their grants, however, were given to supplement war veterans' pensions. As Mr. Andrews had informed the correspondent, sustenance payments should be paid only to fit men, unable to obtain work. Unfit men. class C, were a charge on hospital board relief. —Ed.] <