Thames Star. MONDAY, JUNE 30, 1930. WAR DISABILITIES.

Thames Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 17926, 30 June 1930, Page 4

Thames Star.

MONDAY, JUNE 30, 1930. WAR DISABILITIES.

"With malic* towkrtfo' noh«» with pharfty for all; wjth flrmn«»« ; in the right, a* God aivot lit V wt the Hflht."— Lincoln.

Ex-soldiers'will ntit with approval that the Leader of the Opposition has. expressed his recognition ,of the incidence; ;ahd importance ' t o£' t l what is called; "attributability" ;im post-war disabilities suffered by re-i turned men, antT his dffcire\ to direct :i public attention to this aspect, riot very widely understood, of the problems affecting ex-soldiers. Patrijotic societies and otiner organisations interested in the care and welfare of returned men, in 'New Zealand and in other countries,- particularly in Canada, have been impressed during x4Q^^''y^'^!^^^ * na * many men suffer, the consequence of war-time exertion, exhaustion and exposure in the form of a premature and permanent breakdown in health. Many are completely disabled from carrying on their trade, and can only with difficulty find other work sufficient to keep if they can find it at all/and if they. are fit for any at all. ' At present, as Mr Coates observed, there seems to be no, provision made for such men tinder existing legislation, possibly because the problem is comparatively new arid was not foreseen. At all events, the sort of misfortune refered to is not provided for in the official schedule of disabilities, for which relief can be clairiied. The problem of the "attributability" cases, of course, is not to be considered from the narrow, political point of view, as Mr Coates said. It is one for the serious consideration of all Parties and - the general public, as a national re-. sponsibility.. It is in the nature of the problem that it makes a late appeal to the nation's gratitude for the services of its soldiers and its resolve to "relieve them, as far as possible, of the hard consequences of their service; but it is an entirely just appeal.