SOLDIERS’ MEDICAL BOARD.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 16590, 12 November 1919, Page 5

SOLDIERS’ MEDICAL BOARD.

SOME DUNEDIN COMPLAINTS. Per Press Association# DUNEDIN, Nov. 11. At Sir James Allen’s request, a deputation from the Returned Soldiers’ Association waited on him regarding complaints of treatment at the hands of the travelling Medical Board. Sir James Allen asked for specific cases, hut tbo deputation said they would prefer a .public meeting to-night. Sir James Allen said that so far as he knew there had not boon a single complaint outside of Dunedin regarding the travelling Medical Board. At a public meeting to-nigbt, convened by the Poturned Soldiers’ Association, a motion was carried emphatically protesting against the action of the travelling Medical Board discharging men still undergoing medical treatment. Tho meeting demanded that the Prime Minister should take action to reinstate under tho Defence Department nil men discharged who wore not physically fit to return to their former occupations, or to enter on training to fit them for a new vocation suitable to their disabilities, and that in future when men are examined for discharge by the travelling Medical Board, the evidence of the medical officer attending the cases should be taken before a decision is arrived at. REPLY OF SIR- JAMES ALLEN. This afternoon, Sir James Allen stated he had seen the officer commanding the district and tho Assistant Director of Medical Services of unfit men. The former stated he had asked the Returned Soldiers’ Association for specific instances of men considered unfit for discharge, hut no reply was received. He took steps to ascertain from other sources specific cases, but only ono soldier had reported. By ether means eight nfore names had been secured. Some of these cases apparently deserved consideration, and if necessary ho would ask for a suspension of their discharges pending inquiry by_ the Director-General of Medical Services, hut as the men had 2S days’ leave before discharge, tho Director-General of Medical Services would come to Dunedin and inquire. The refusal of the Returned Soldiers’ Association to supply specific cases, except in ono instance, placed the Department and tho Minister at a disadvantage. Tho discharge alluded to was discharge from the forces, and not

from hospital or from medical treat ment. If tlio soldier still required medical treatment ho would got this whether ho belonged to tho forces or not. Sir James Allen has been advised by telegram that the Director-General has given instructions for certain decisions of tho board to bo revised.