LIMBLESS SOLDIERS.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18204, 15 October 1924, Page 13

LIMBLESS SOLDIERS.

MEETING IN CHRISTCHURCH. A meet in j of limbics cs-servico men v '"* 3 I held ir. fho Jellicoe Hall last evening. r M. W. Cummins presided over an attendance of about fifty soldiers who hs<i k&\ limbs on ictivc service. Mr W. E. Lfadiey stated that the Auditor. General Lu-d "tagged" tho bs-anee-sbeet ot the Chrisahurca* Tramway Board because. he held that the issue cf free tram passes, to disabled soldiers was illegal. The B-S-A.i had tharcforo made representations to t~*> Minuter of Internal Affairs to eecuro an amendment to the Finance Act legalising the issue of free tram passes to iegi<*a soldiers. The Minister had* n-w advised th. Association that it was proposed to bnngI down tho following amendment to the i'inar.ce Act during the present eession Oi | Parliament:—"lt shall be, and sball be. doomed at ail times heretofore, to bav. \ been lawful for any locaJ authority or publ.c | bv<dy to perinit any disabled soldiers lo travel without charge on ax" tramway or other ssrvicc cstjbhshed for vbe conveyance of passengers and conducted bv that loci, authority or public body." lie f*|t £ '£T° that the action of the Association in this respect wcyid be Drrpreciated by ail .ej;ie3i- , soldiers. The Association was also endravouricfr to obtain a clothing allowance to | the wearers of ail artificial appliances. Xnc , War Pensions Amendment Act of last session had granted a clothing allowance to lo? amputees o! £3 for an amputation ai>o-/e the knee, ar.d £6 fer an amputation be ow the knot--. It was contended, hiwcver. Uiat all wearcro of artificial appliances were entitled to equal consideration, as tne weai and tear on underclothing was very heavy in all such ca*i'S. Tho Association was now collecting article* of clothing wnicn hud been worn out by the wca-rera ct artificial apolianccs and intended to forvaja , tbeso articles to the Minister in supper u _oi their contention. Another master wiicn was causing dissatisfaction »»«?• rc " turned soldier amputees was the Govern- ; dent's declared policy cf carrying ° n f>. 'ft repaais end fittings of tew artificial limbs in the. limbless workshops in Wellington, j This policy, if persisted in, would cause j cor.sidernb!; hardship wid inconvenience to , amputees ir: this district. Several limbless soldiers present express- ] ed the opinion that if they had to pro- : crcd t.i Wellington on every occasion to I have their arti'acial limbs repaired, they , would lose their employment, as their em plovers would cot put up with such mcon- j vcnier.ee. The following motion was carried unan> I roously:— "That this mooting of limbless soldiers strongly protests against tho Gov- i erurncnt's proposal to carry out all ntting* and repairs to the new artificial limbs in Wellington. It points out that such a^ Proposal would inflict considerable hardship and inconvenience on soldier amputees and (heir employers, and urges that theso repairs should be carried cut by tho limbless department at the Christehurch Hospital aa heretofore, so that Canterbury amputees may still have the benefits of ( sdvicej and supervision of Dr. Acland.' Iu answer to a question, Mr Lcadlcy stated that tho economic pension grants. by thi Pension Amendment Act of lastsession -was dopendent on the soldier's income and was granted at the discretion o,' the War Pensions Board to eoldicis who, on account of war disability, wero unabla to carry on their pre-war employment. A limbless soldier complained that it wag «. difficult matter to obtain stump socka from tho local Registrar of Pensions, and! that only one size oi sock -was in stock. Tho secretary proiiiis&S to interview tho Registrar of Pensions regarding the matter. At the close of the -meeting ft number of civilian amputees -,vere admitted to tha hall, and the chairman introduced Mr M. • Pff'dn, Now Zealand representative cf tho. McKay Artificial Limb Company, London,- j ■who has himself lost an arm on active service. Dr. 11. T. D. Acland was also on tio platform bv invitation of tlio chairman. Mr Kyan demonstrated tho various I things which could be accomplished by tho McKay artificial arms and legs, and at the close of tlio address answered a largo number of questions. Mr -Hyatt is staying in Christehurch for a day "or two in order to instruct tho cmplovecs of tho limbless department at the Christehurch Hospital in the method of repairing tho new 'imbs.