WAR WOUNDS

Hokitika Guardian, 6 January 1933, Page 6

WAR WOUNDS

TENSIONERS INCH EA SI

AUSTR ALIA,; FIG UR KS

•SYDNEY, December 29

Though more returned soldiers are receiving pensions than in any other year since 1922, and though, the average rate for them ip higher than any year .since 1917, the total c °st of pensions to tlie Australian Government last year was about £750,000 bivow the figure h>r 1931.

An analysis made l by i lie Returned Soldiers’ League shows that,, .whereas the pension of the returned uo'liers has been increased, t]i e average rate for dependents—l2b :5.67d a, fortnight—is th e lowest on record, Compared 'with. 1922, when the number 0! returned ..soldier pensioners was 76.249, tip. number at tlie last official return was 75,646, whoso average rate of penk,:ou wa s £1 17s 1.1.0dd. To strike a higher.average one li.ad to go back to 1917, when th 3 , rate .was £2 Is 2.69(1. The increase in the number of returned soldiers pensioners, League officials say, is due in some measure to the inci.demv* of age and economic stress. As the Riggers grow older the aggravation ot their war disabilities iiy, 'bound to increase. , At the close of th 0 last financial year there were .14.46 in patients pn. the books of the Repatriation Department, and of these 579 were mental. During the past year the out-patients attendance..; numbered. 140.351. Tuberculosis accounted for 89 deaths in repatriation institutions 'during the year ; pleurisy and kindred complaints for 20; heart affections. 19 kidney, complaints, 14 ; and hiental diseases. 10.