SOLDIER PROBLEMS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18612, 21 July 1922, Page 7

SOLDIER PROBLEMS

MANY ASPECTS. (From Odb Own Cobivespokdent.) WELLINGTON, July 20. Members’ questions to Ministers to-day showed that they are concerned about several aspects of the problem of returned soldiers. One arose out of a creditor’s meeting of a returned soldier in the Otaki electorate, creditors being highly critical _of the Lands Department's treatment of this man. A representative of Dolgety and Co. said the unsecured creditors were prepared to stand aside and give the soldier an opportunity to carry on, but the Crown was adamant, and no proposals were . forthcoming from it. Tile bankrupt's solicitor declared that his client was thoroughly broke, and he would be glad of bis railway fare. This case was referred to in the House by Mr G. Mitchell (Wellington South), with the result that the Minister of Lands expressed satisfaction at being given a chance to absolutely deny that the soldier-tenant had been badly treated. He knew of the case personally. The department hod done everything possible for this man, but he had been misled into taking up land under impossible conditions, and the department was not responsible for the position. Everything possible had been done to help him, and although he would go off this farm the department would not drop him. Inis case, added the Minister, shows how dangerous it is for a man to be led into a business by those who are only anxious to get their commission. Mr T. M. Wilford called attention to the urgent need for legislation enabling the Government to consider cases of men who Had been quite fit when discharged, but who had since'developed disability due to war service.

Sir Heaton Rhodes replied that any man had tho right to appeal to the Pensions’ Board, and if lie brought evidence that the disability he was suffering from was due to war service lie would got a pension though ho might have been discharged fit. Mr Wilford pointed out that a man might not, hnvo suffered at any time, though the present, trouble was due to service. In that case, said the Minister, ho should bring evidence that he had received an injury which might have been the cause of the trouble after discharge. Mr H. Poland raised the case of a soldier who had been given a full disability pension owing to the lews of a leg. He was married and had one ohild. The Pensions Department paid the wife an allowance of 12s fid weekly, and 7s fid for the dbild, but had discontinued it, considering that the man could assist to keep his family. Mr Poland assured the House that tho exsoldier, unable to get work, and after paying rent, had only £1 weekly for support. The remainder came from the charity of neighbours. Sir Heaton Rhodes undertook to look into tho records of this case personally. There was still another class of loldier problem, that of men suffering from a recurrence of illness, or the development of a latent malady, and also that of his dependents, which -was raised with some concern by several members. Dr Thacker brought the matter up first, and solicited the Minister's sympathy in the case of a widow at Horo Horo, who was trying to support herself and a soldier son incapacitated with rheumatism on a joint pension of 25s per treok. The latter had been informal by the Minister that if he wanted work he should apply to the Repatriation Department. Dr Thacker quoted another case of a widow who had lost two sons in the war and was trying to maintain a home on £1 12s fid per week. The member for Christchurch Ea.'it emphasised that there was urgent need for assisting these cases, particularly where the soldier was broken down.

The Hon. D. H. Guthrie replied that he was familiar with the Horo Haro case, as he had gone very carefully into it. Under the law he had no power to advance any money. That was for the Defence- Department. His department had informed soldiers that the Repatriation Department would do everything possible to find work for them. As far as the other case was concerned Mr Guthrie added that a widow who had lost two sons was entitled to assistance, and he would be glad to look into the case. Mr L. M. Isitt then mentioned the Case of a soldier who was stall carrying a bullet in his body, and was incapable of working. He had a wife and child to support on a pension of 10s. Mr Isitt suggested that a commission should 'be set up to consider oases of men who developed serious illness after discharge. Sir, Heaton Rhodes (Minister of Defence) answered this questioner, and stated that every case was considered on its merits. Soldiers had recourse to the Pensions Appeal Board if they thought they were not adequately compensated for loss of earning ability.