INVALIDED SOLDIERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17371, 19 January 1920, Page 6

INVALIDED SOLDIERS.

QUESTION OF DISCHARGE. COMPLAINTS VOICED BY MEN. - ■'. DEPUTATION TO; ; DIBEOTOR.' t .;r;::;;^v:c- : -.'}- ' > ' ■ 'V ' M Returned \ soldiers' complaints were laid before !the, Director-General of i-. Medical Services, Surgeon-General : D. ; J. : McGavin, by a deputation from the Auckland Returnip ■Soldiers' -Association prior to his. departure for ; Wellington. '■ Hlt was complain-; 1 that many, premature discharges ''were ,-; being . made tb/?- the Travelling ; Medical Board/ ; , General McGavin explained that when a man was fit for light; work the board considered it I best to give him his discharge and put him on pension. Instances were submitted to him of discharged men who still required treatment/ who ■ cou'.d undertake sno work, mi who would probably have to undergo further operations in a few weeks. -* He promised consideration of the cases cited. !,-liei deputation iasked that a represen-, tative of the association; be present" when the Medical ,' Board;' sat, with \ the | object | of interviewing the ; men and making re-; presentations where it was thought a man' was ? being discharged when ] he", was < unfit for discharge. The General said it was im-! possible for a representative to be present a*: the medical examination, - but he would, be "pleased to give the association facilities to be represented and Ito interview the men after they had undergone examination, and he would consider any representations made in individual cases. - -~ J Another . matter ' discussed j was the dissatisfaction, prevailing in ' regard to stump '■■ vox,- which j were considered ! inferior &in every way to r those "'■'■ supplied in j. the Old Country. :•: General McGavin admitted that the local article was unsatisfactory, and-stated that the Department!-: had ~ a consignment on its way from -Britain. > ' Mr. :T. Long, one of 'the deputation, brought up She question of amusement* for the men in Tokanui: Mental Hospital. .He stated that 'on wet . days the men congregated in a large room' tnd had nothing to do.

; The General said he would inquire into the matter when he visited the hospital shortly. y