RETURNED SOLDIERS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIV, Issue 1038, 10 June 1924, Page 9

RETURNED SOLDIERS.

ANNUAL DOMINION' REPORT. CIIIIISTCHURCIT, June 7. The annual report of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association, presented at the Dominion Conference, stated that no finality had been reached in regard to economic pensions, and I further that no definite effort was I made by the department to obtain eraj ploy men t for applicants lor economic ! pensions. With r;-ga>'d to the Appeal j Board, the association expressed con- ! fidenco in the efforts of Sir Frederic!; j Chapman as the first president of the ; board. With regard to his successor I (Mr S. G. Raymond), the association felt confident that the same spirit of impartiality would be shown. The Appeal Board had dismissed 23 appeals in Wellington and upheld 19; dismissed 59 in Chr.istchurch and uphold 41 ; dismissed 11 in Dunedin and upheld 17; and dismissed 51 in Auckland and upheld 44. In all there had been 30fl appeals; 144 had been dismissed, li'l upheld, 8 withdrawn, '2'A deferred, and 4 pensions were made permanent. With regard to the clothing allowance to amputees, the executive considered that the legislation should be amended so that amounts granted to wearers ol mechanical devices be left to the opinion of the War Pensions Board and not kept, at the present fixed rates, of £8 and £6. The executive congratulated the Government upon the legislation in connection with the Soldier Land Settle-neat Act of 19'_'3. The N.Z R.S.A.'s liiie of policy had been right for the- revaluation of soldiers' settlement laud, and the 1923 legislation made provision for this course of action. With regard to medical treatment, ar,d after care, it was reported that attention had been pnid to incipient mental and shell shock cases. The U.S.A. was a warm advocate of the Spahlinger treatment for T. 8., and urged the Government to investigate and secure the New Zealand rights to the treatment. The president (Sir Andrew Russell) had visited M. Spahlinger in Switzerland, and was impressed by what he saw; further. Sir James Allen was to be congratulated on his efforts in this connection. During the past twelve months marked progress had been made in connection with artificial limbs, and an expert had arrived and had commenced teaching the Government, artificial limb factory employees in Wellington the necessary details. The report states that a further number ol tho branches have decided to wind up their affairs. Last year's membership showed a decrease of just on '2~> per cent, on the previous year. The following associations were being wound up:—Hauraki, Whakatane, Mataniata, Te Aroha, McKenzin Country. Thames Valley, Baklutha and Dannevirke. Tho total number of affiliated associations was now 51. During the year Dunedin had increased iti membership by '2o.">'. New Plymouth by Ho, Te Kuiti'by t>3. Wmpaiva by 8. Motueka by 4, and Temuka by 1. It had been decided to issue a small magazine quarterly for a start,- to financial member*.