DISABLED EX-SOLDIERS

Waikato Times, Volume 106, Issue 17869, 15 November 1929, Page 7

DISABLED EX-SOLDIERS

PROVISION OF WORK. EVIDENCE BEFORE COMMISSION. A WAIKATO PROPOSAL. AUCKLAND, Friday. In a report laid before the Returned Soldiers’ Rehabilitation Commission yesterday by the executive of the Wal- /•> kato Returned Soldiers' Association > some kind of farm colony or area was suggested for the class of disabled exsoldier who Is temporarily unfit for a * short time only in each year. Those partially permanently disabled and not now in permanent employment should be employed by the creation of suitable work for them, whether on a farm colony or in some Government service. “ The existing facilities for land settlement are not sufficient to assist in this way,” the report proceeded. " Criticism that disabled ex-soldiers are not capable of successfully coping with farm work has been made. They are not fit, perhaps, for doing the breaking in of land, but there are a number of returned soldiers suffering various disabilities who are still, after a number of years, on their holdings in the Waikato. Presumably they are farming as well as the average soldier settler.

“ Five farmers who answered a circular issued were suffering the following disabilities: —(1) Crippled left hand, pension 15s a week. (2) Bullet near spinfe, crippled hand and weak chest, pension £1 a week. (3) Loss of leg, pension 32s 6d a week. (4) Tubercular fibrosis, pension 10s a week. (5) Strained heart, no pension. Others could be named who have not returned their circulars, but who have been farming successfully while suffering from some disability.' Dealing With Nerve Trouble. "It Is probably impossible now to disoover the proportion of disabled to fit soldiers who have abandoned their farms. . The number of cases with some sort of nerve trouble (which was perhaps more prevalent just after the war than now) should, however, be remembered, and the effect which the worry of the slump would have on these cases. Where the disability was a nerve complaint and a soldier settler gave up his holding, then the hard times must bear some proportion of .the ’blame. The disabled pensioner on the land has his pension to help him in employing extra labour when necessary, and his wife and family can assist him occasionally. In a settlement or colony .assistance can also In case of sickness be obtained from adjoining settlers.

“ Eighteen men answered the question on the circular to the effect that they would be prepared to take up a small farm if the opportunity and neoessary finance were provided. Sixteen of these had had previous farming experience."