AFTER-CARE OF SOLDIERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 17846, 29 July 1921, Page 7

AFTER-CARE OF SOLDIERS.

REPATRIATION ACTIVITIES.

PROVISION FOR CHEST CASES.

A statement has been issued by the Minister in charge of repatriation, tie Hon, D. H. Guthrie, reviewing the provision made for discharged soldiers suffering from tubercular complaints. "One of our most difficult problems," said Mr. Guthrie, "is the training and placing in employment of these men, and at the outset I poind say that I have always been impressed by the sympathetic manner in which my officers handle these cases. During the past year the special after-care officer on this work has personally interviewed 1765 chest cases (tuberculosis, bronchitis, pleurisy, pneumonia, and asthma). Of this number 1009 have been medically examined; 56 'have been sent irito sanatoria for treatment; 54 into hospital ; 375 made out-patients of hospitals ; and 29 have been transferred from their present surroundings, either on account of their occupations being unsuitable, or for climatic reasons; and the living conditions in 793 houses have been inspected. " A good deal of time has also been spent in conducting a thorough search throughout New Zealand for men who returned with chest trouble, and having them medically examined to see whether in their present physical condition they should have attention in a sanatorium, but out of the total, only 55 w # ere fomid to be in need of this special treatment.

Hew Occupations. " Efforts have also been made to train men who were unable to follow their prewar occupations, in some suitable light outdoor work, with, I consider, considerable success. The repatriation training farm, at Tauherenikau, has already trained 124 men in light branches of farming (market gardening', bee culture, and poultry farming), and there are still some 50 men receiving instruction. At this farm we have adopted, as far as possible, the same rules and instructions that are in operation at the sanatoria* with benefit both to the department and the trainees. There is probably no other farm in the world such as this—where men are paid while training so that they subsequently follow up the occupation taught. Similar farms exist in some countries, but aa - e attached to the sanatoria, and the instruction given \ is purely curative, and in very few instances do the patients take it up as a livelihood, largely, no doubt, on account of want of capital. Men on discharge from Tauherenikau, however, after completing their prescribed courses, are placed on farmlets by the Lands and Repatriation Departments. A number of men have already been trained and placed on poultry* farms, and last week two fine men were established on a productive apiary in the Marlborough district. "Other occupations in which these men have been successfully trained include boot-making, outside plumping, motordriving, carpentering, and painting. The records show that up to the present the only real failure in these occupations has been in motor-driving. Keeping in Touch. "Every effort is made to keep in close touch with each man, but some seem to wander away on their own, so that they may take up occupations that they themselves prefer; while others are able to resume their former occupations, which, however, is only allowed with the permission of the specialist who treated the case. The greatest difficulty is that the disease has in many cases a peculiar effect on the individual's temperament, and it has been found that some days men are keen to work for ten hours, while on other occasions they do not seem able to work more than one hour a day. "One of the! greatest successes in the Wellington district is that of a man who has 2000 fowls under his charge, and 35 acres of land. Although he works 10 hours a day, he looks well, and states that he has never felt 1 better in his life. This example could be followed to advantage by many others provided they did about six hours a day only, for without work it appears that T.B. men have no hope of keeping up their powers of resistance against the disease. "At present there are still a number of men under treatment in the different sanatoria, and they are likely to keep the department busy for some time to come."