LOSS OF AN EYE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19142, 7 October 1925, Page 15

LOSS OF AN EYE.

SOLDIERS' PENSIONS. Former Australian soldiers who have lost the sight of one eye as the result of war service will receive an increase in pension, according to a statement made in the House of Representatives by the Minister for Defence, Sir Neville Howse. The Minister said that he had carefully discussed the matter with a number of ophthalmic surgeons, who informed him that it was inadvisable for one-eyed men to follow certain occupations. Soldiers who lost the sight of one eve. as the result of war service, but had no other war disability, had been receiving permanent pensions of 50 per cent. More recently, provision had been made to increase that rate to the degree that the sight of the other eye became defective. That meant that if" there should be a complete loss of sight in the other eye from whatever cause the former soldier was granted a pension at the highest rate of £8 a fortnight. The Ministry, said Sir Neville, had agreed to authorise the Repatriation Commission to grant an allowance not exceeding 7s 6d a week to any former soldier who had lost the sight of one eye as ii result of war service, provided that he was not eligible for the pension and allowance made available under tue fifth schedule of the Act, and provided that the pension and allowance combined did not (exceed the full ordinary rate of pension of £2 2s a week.