DISABLED SOLDIERS

Evening Star, Issue 23950, 30 July 1941, Page 4

DISABLED SOLDIERS

WEAKNESS IN DISCHARGE SYSTEM HOSPITAL ATTENDANCE HOT COMPULSORY A weakness in the present regulations affecting the return of disabled men from the battlefields for discharge was pointed out at yesterday’s meeting of the Otago Provincial Patriotic Council by Mr J. M. White, during the discussion of a letter received from Mr G. A. ‘Hayden, secretary of the National Fund Board. The letter read, in part:— “ When the returned soldier on being medically boarded on his disembarkation is found to be permanently unfit for further active service overseas, he is continued on Expeditionary Force rates of pay for 28 days from the day following the sitting of the Medical Board. Should the Medical Board consider such a soldier should receive hospital or other treatment of any kind, it makes a recommendation accordingly. ■ “ It will be appreciated that although the soldier is still a soldier for the period of his 28 days’ leave on pay, he is none the less as free an agent as any civilian whom a medical practitioner might advise to undergo medical treatment. , The soldier is advised that he is free of his obligations as far as the Second N.Z.E.F. is concerned, and therefore can please himself as to whether he accepts the recommendation of the board or ignores it. After all. it is merely a * recommendation. ’ and that precludes the Army issuing a direct order to any soldier to undergo treatment.” “ These men consider themselves discharged. and not all of them undergo the treatment advised,” said Mr White. “ That is the big weakness in the present scheme.”

Dr Newlands enlarged on this matter, stating, that many men went for a holiday for the duration of their 28 days—understandably, but they should have' been under treatment. It was a weakness in the regulations, and not only from the point of view of the health of the men, but so that the extent of the injuries of the men might be assessed, for future consideration. If something better than the present arrangement was not arrived at, the board was laying up trouble for tho future.

A great many men, ho continued, were coming back with asthma. They wore asthmatics, who, at a favourable period in their health, had passed the Medical Board. Probably their affliction was not due in any way to war service. Back in New Zealand, they would attribute it to war service. They would probably “ get away with it ” unless they had been properlv assessed. If the recommendations of the Medical Board were commilsory. thev could he so .assessed, and this would prevent them from makuitr nnhistified claims on the Patriotic Council. On the suggestion of Mr A. H. Allen, who presided, it was decided to writeio the National Fund Board, stressing these points.