WAR PENSIONS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 237, 5 October 1940, Page 10

WAR PENSIONS.

APPEAL BOARD.

MEDICAL PERSONNEL

St'«»e jcriiifism of the personnel of the War Pensions Appeal Board wm» made at the Provincial Convention of tha X.Z.R.S.A- held recently in Anddud. It was explained that there had hem some rearrangement in the War Itenoos Appeal Board at Auckland. A *w chairman had been appointed in finFrancis Frarer and the appointment of Drs. McGaw and Abbott had been «aacellcd as from July 31. Upon nonnation through the X.Z.R.SJL, Dr. W»ft« had been reappointed, but Dr. Abbott liad been replaced by Dr. Harold Petiit as Government appointee.

Immediately following ♦»«»« Dr. lieCaw had resigned. Dr. Abbott had thereupon been pressed to accept USA. nomination, but he declined. Dr. had sat on the board continuously far 17 years and Dr. Abbott for 15. *Tliey had worked together wonderfully as a team and had given satisfaction to the R-S.A. and generally speaking to tte appellants, whose number for MCKII years past had constituted between V and 70 per cent of the total number of appellants in Xe<w Zealand.

Scientific research had been especially devoted to chest cases proven to have chemical injury to the lungs and certain stigmata as the sequel to gas exposure. This was the only A grade medical tribunal in Xe-v Zealand that has trotted itself to take up thk research work. As a result many hundreds, of. anoellants in Auckland had been succetrful in their appeal*. This meant that the establishment of an entirely new hoard would have the effect of losing the benefit of all tliiis re.-carch work. In view of tins and of the outstanding capabilities of the old medical members of the board, it was felt that futui* appellants, both of the last war and the present one. might suffer a tremendous disadvantage unless step* W taken to alter this state of affair*. The Auckland and Western Suburbs eecf*taries went to Wellington and interviewed the headquarters pension* sub-committee, who agreed to support them in an interview with the Minister tor War Pensions, the Hon. W. E. Parr v. and the Rt. Hon. .J. G. Coates. The -Minister was requested as a last resort to communicate with the Auckland British Medical Association asking thi! body to recommend two ex-service dor ort. As nothing transpired for some time a letter was sent to headquarter* a-Kmg it to request the Minister to nave the matter considered liv the War a Jinet as Mr. C. oates had. a-, a member " . 1 ,:l ' tabillet, piven :he opinion that should bp dune. Headquarters d<*clincd to do this.

. further di<s<.tis«iuii an d cxplanation it was filially resolved:—"That this convention views* with the greatest possible alarm the action of the Government in not reappointing Eh-. Abbott to the War Pensions Appeal Board in view of his long and valued experience in dealing with disabled soldier?, and requests it to do so without further delay or give valid reason* for not doinjr so, and that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to headquarters."* Since the -convention met. advico has been received from the Minister that Dr. Pettit's appointment as Government nominee has been confirmed.