DISABILITIES OF FORMER SOLDIERS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18900, 26 October 1929, Page 1

DISABILITIES OF FORMER SOLDIERS.

COMMISSION HEARS EVIDENCE IN DUNEDIN. Per Press Association. DUNEDIN, October 26. The first witness before the disabled ex-servicemen’s commission to-day was a former Imperial soldier, who was dis charged after serving for fifteen years Fie ■was in the Mons retreat and waj captured at Le Cateau, being interned till the end of the war for a period of two years. He received 10s pension for his heart condition. He came to Dunedin in 1921, securing a position as a labourer in the Railway Department. In 1928 the heart trouble recurred, with haemorrhage, and he had not been able to resume work at Hillside. So far no lighter work had been offered by the Department. He received 25s sick benefit pay, and also 7s 6d weekly from a lodge. He was in the Red Cross Home, paying 25s board. Witness said he would take a job as a porter, messenger or liftman anywhere in the Dominion. The next witness said he enlisted in 1916, and saw three years’ service. He was discharged on a pension, which was reduced, and finally stopped. He followed the farming occupation till. 1926. Since then he had been doing casual labouring work. In 1928 he incurred an injury and had been advised not to undertake heavy manual work. He found it hard to obtain light work, though he could do light gardening or work as a crossing-keeper, a liftman or the like.