DISABLED SOLDIERS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 24, 30 January 1939, Page 6

DISABLED SOLDIERS.

May I comment on the reported epeedk of the Hon. W. Perry, Dominion president of the R.S.A., as to the high prestige of hie ~«n~ ciation T There is in Auckland a certain section of returned men who, because of their large numbers (statistics show that of the total of these men 60 per cent reside in the Auckland Province), have a problem whick because of its concentration in one district does not get the consideration which u ib due. This in turn brings about a loss of dignity and respect, not to mention mors tragic results. I refer to the war pensioner, or, as he has become more generally known, the disabled soldier. The president and several executives of the Auckland R.S.A. have throogfe their annual remits to the Dominion conferences of that body, shown a deep sympathy and wide knowledge of this problem. Unfortunately these remits have been thrown out, or their real intention desfroved, perhaps because of the above-mentioned facts of so great a number being represented by so small a delegation at these conferences. It was for these reasons that the disabled men formed an association of their own to make their problems more widely known and to make direct representations* to the Minister eerned. It is to be regretted that thoujS doing their Htmost their efforts have met with no better result. These men surely deserve a deeper understanding of their problems and the effects on themselves and their children. May I say, as one of them, that we feel that not only have we no prestige, but that we are the most forgotten section of the community. The Hon. Perry and his Dominion executive would be doing a great service if they gave the matter their most serious consideration. Besides adding to their already high prestige as an association, they would be helping men who feel very keenly, along with other and more pressing needs, the loss of pride of identity of having given service to their country which was intended to be compensated in the spirit of the War Pensions Act, 1915. WAR PENSIONER.