SOLDIERS' COMPLAINT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16375, 1 November 1916, Page 8

SOLDIERS' COMPLAINT.

TIME OF DISCHARGE.

MINISTER; EXPLANATION.

VIEWS OF CLAIMS BOARD.

, The complaint of several returned soldiers | now in hospital in the Domain annexe, who state that they are being prematurely discharged, came before the Claims Board of the Auckland Patriotic Association at it." meeting' yesterday. The Mayor, Mr. J- H. Gunson, who presided, read the following telegram that he had received I from the Minister for Defence, Hon. J. , Allen, in reply to the telegram sent fcy the Mayor:—"l will have inquiries made as regards the men in hospital annexe who have received notice of discharge, but possibly yon have misunderstood the position. All men who may be in need of further treatment after discharge from the Expeditionary Force are entitled to the same on application to the district health officer, but the Government does not desire that any man should be removed from the hospital so long as he requires hospital treatment. There is a time, however, when a man should go on pension, and after that time his treatment is the concern of the Public Health Department." A later telegram from the MinisI ter slated that the Auckland district ; office had been communicated with, and that a further reply would be sent as I early as possible. . The following resolution was passed by the • Claims Board :—" That having considered the telegrams from the Minister for Defence, the board is of opinion that no objection can be taken to this course, but thinks the disparity in time between the discharge and the granting of a peni s '°. n should be removed. The board is of I opinion that all pensions, particularly in j the case of those men in hospital shoald ' automatically operate from the time of j their discharge. j In a subsequent statement on the matter the Mayor said there should ">p no difficulty in having the matter satisfactorily adjusted. He considered it was to be regretted that the Defence Department had not ma jo the men fully acquainted with the position, which was now clearlv explained in Mr. Allen's telegram. " The men were rightly looking for consideration at the hands of the Government, but should there be any cases requiring the ; attention of the Patriotic Association the : latter would be quite prepared to meet them. | I — I