EX-SOLDIER’S DEATH

Greymouth Evening Star, 16 March 1929, Page 5

EX-SOLDIER’S DEATH

«sC®» —— CORONER’S SUGGESTION. (Per Press Association.) NELSON, March 14. At the inquest into the death of C. H. Nelson, of Murchison, the Coroner (Mr H. Fraser) returned a verdict that the cause of death was a gunshot wound self-inflicted, when in a state of acute mental depression. Reviewing the evidence, the Coroner remarked that it was a case where a man broken in health by war service, and not equipped with a great deal of previous experience in dairy farming, had attempted to do that which would have taxed to the utmost a man with wider experience and blessed with good health and a sound constitution. The disastrous flood of 1926, when the Buller River changed its course and washed away a considerable area of his farm, added materially to his worries. Foredoomed io failure from the outset, he kept on valiantly striving to overcome insuperable difficulties until, broken in spirit as well as in health, he gave up the hopeless battle and brought an honourable career to a tragic end.

Such a case as this, added the Coroner, seemed to prompt the question as Io whether a, close and sympathetic. investigation info the circumstances of other soldier settlers should not be made to see if they were physically and temperamentally fitted for the life they have chosen. During the difficult period of repatriation both the Government and returned men thought the terms of settlement on the land were satisfactory, but perhaps much good would result now if a. genera] review of every case were made where it was apparent that a man was not succeeding.