Veterans list grows
Five Christchurch Vietnam war veterans are among those who have reported unexplained illnesses and birth defects in their children. The number of Vietnam war veterans claiming health problems has nearly tripled since last week’s announcement of action by ..the Government.
By last evening, the New Zealand Returned Services’ Association had received 59 letters and calls from veterans who believe they may have been affected by the controversial defoliant, Agent Orange, during their service in Vietnam.
Mr J. .Green, secretary of the Christchurch R.S.A., said his branch had received five telephone calls from Vietnam war veterans.
At the time when the Minister of Health (Mr Gair) and the Minister of Defence (Mr Gill) discussed the issue and announced their decision to extend inquiries the national R.S.A. had passed on 20 letters.
The sudden jump in the number of letters comes after an appeal by the two Ministers to veterans to come forward.
The Ministry of Defence is now writing to 3890 Vietnam veterans at their last known
addresses seeking information about unexplained illnesses and birth defects in children.
In Westbury, New York, an Australian lawyer representing a group of Australian war veterans who are filing a suit against the makers of Agent Oignge has said that he also represents 4000 Vietnam veterans from New Zealand and that he has started to process claims by these servicemen.
The lawyer, Mr William McMillan, said thousands more Australian servicemen would join the suit before the end of the year.
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Press, 27 February 1980, Page 6
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248Veterans list grows Press, 27 February 1980, Page 6
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