"THERE ARE FEWER OF US EACH WINTER."

NZ Truth, 7 June 1924, Page 15

"THERE ARE FEWER OF US EACH WINTER."

Dropping as the Autumrt Leaves. "Tho Blockhead" (a courageous and eloquent sufferer) writes: In 1920, beforo the Defence Committee at Wellington, the patients then In military sanatoria, m conjunction with the R.S.A.. executed a movement with the objects of placing beforo the public and the Government the position of men invalided from the army suffering from tuberculosis, of obtaining suitable recognition for their disability, and of preserving, under changing conditions, the privileges then granted to disabled soldiers m hospital. In this they were successful, inasmuch as thoy obtained promises— but only promises — that privileges would continue under whatever control the men should bo placed, and that while undor treatment Tn hospital, and for a period of twelve months from dlschargo therefrom, all men (single and without dependants) would receive full and economic pension (married men proportionate allowance) amounting to 70/- per week, each man to bo a compulsory out-patient of some medical Institution and to be examined periodically by v chest specialist. All this — and more — appeared m tho press at the time, and as the thing stood It appeared to bo as much as could be expected, and for a time the promises held good. SUH. they were only promises, and m time, what In those days were termed privileges became almost non est, while unfit men aro sinking between illness. and poverty because they ale not earning or receiving BUlHciont means to livo according to their disability. EARNINGS REDUCE PENSION. It appears to be the policy of the Pensions Board to reduce tho pension 20/- for every 10/- the pensioner can earn. This, to say the least of it, only discourages him from earning the llt- ! tie ho might when a little bettor than usual. £or fear of Jeopardising his chnnco of being reinstated when he can no longer carry on. I know of at least two sufferers who, on being dtecharged from tho Railway Department on account of their health, elected to draw their superannuation by instalment* of something like 12/- to 16/---ner week, and m consequence were donrlvcd of the economic pension of 30/---ner week. This aeoms ur.fnir. In many other easos tho Inconsistency of tho Pensions Board Is deplorably obvious as In tbat,, though n pensioner's mate of health may not Warrant the ernntlnir of ft full and economic pension it may bo serious enough to demand a re-admission to sanatoria. To-day, m spite of all those promises, it Is a common thing for ex-puUonta to find their pensions reduced after »lx or even three months from thctr discharge. It seems that. a sort of formula is adopted m reducing pensions. Full for «l* or twelve months, then half that again, »id inunltum, every six months. But. bellove we, and ih<> doctor* too. sir, that's not the way of ImprnviiiK T.B. Tho Tact that T.B. itt a permanent disability has been irrefutably established, and it la readily admitted that a