INVALID SOLDIERS

Otago Witness, Issue 3430, 9 December 1919, Page 5

INVALID SOLDIERS

SOME- SUGGESTIONS FOR THEIR TREATMENT. CHRISTCHURCH, December 3. At a meeting of the executive of the Christehurch Returned Soldiers' Association, the following resolution, passed at a general meeting of soldier patients at the Military Sanatorium, Cashmere Hills, was considered : "That instead of the Government taking over the surplus funds from the various patriotic and Red Cross" committees, a certain sum be placed in trust as a fund to provide tubercular soldiers with assistance when they are discharged from hospital." In the course of a covering letter, it was stated that in many cases men who attempted to take up their old occupation quickly brought about a recurrence of their trouble by work which they were not physically fit to undertake. This meant a further period of treatment in the hospital, and their constitution was weakened by the recurrence of the disease. It was suggested that a sum be devoted for each man who required assistance when he was first discharged from the hospital with the disease arrested. This would probably enable him to start in some suitable business, and prevent the necessity of his having to take-up his ordinary occupation, which had in many instances been detrimental to his health. It was further suggested that the sum allocated for disbursement be held in trust, and that a special commission Be appointed to investigate each man's case, and to decide whether the applicant should receive assistance. This, of course, should not interfere with the Government's responsibility > in respect of tubercular men. It was decided to refer the questions to the Dominion Executive.