H—9

Table 21—War Disablement Pensions: Nunber in Force at 31st March, 1950, According to Percentage of Disability

MEDICAL TREATMENT FOR EX-SERVICEMEN At the 31st March, 1950, there were 165 ex-servicemen of the 1914 war and 308 of the 1939 war receiving in-patient treatment in hospitals as a result of war disabilities. Medical treatment of war pensioners (including the cost of treatment of pensioners living overseas) amounted to £216,762 for the year, compared with £248,465 for the previous year. The number of ex-servicemen in the four Red Cross homes at 31st March, 1950, was 76, of which 19 were in Mowai Home, 17 in Evelyn Firth Home, 19 in Rannerdale Home, and 21 in Monticello Home. During the year 8 original and 105 duplicate artificial limbs were supplied and fitted to war pensioners and major repairs were carried out to 129 artificial limbs. The Medical Officer in Charge of Treatment has again noted a decline in the number of new applications for war pension on account of pulmonary tuberculosis. The incidence of amoebiases has remained much the same, 62 new cases being diagnosed during the year. The Medical Officer in Charge of Treatment has reviewed in detail the incidence of tuberculosis among applicants for war disablement pension and has made the following comments: —. (1) The incidence of pulmonary tuberculosis is slightly higher among Naval personnel than among personnel of the Army or Air Force. (2) The incidence of tuberculosis in personnel other than Maoris who served overseas is much the same as for the Civil population. (3) The incidence of tuberculosis in Maori personnel who served overseas, while greater than that for non-Maori men overseas, is much less than that for Maori Civil population, and indicates that the higher incidence of tuberculosis among Maoris is due to environment rather than any inherent susceptibility to the disease. (4) Mass radiology has proved its worth in eliminating unsuspected cases from the Services. (5) Early observation and treatment does not always prevent progress of the disease. Approximately 1,500 ex-servicemen applied for pensions on account of pulmonary tuberculosis between 1939 and 1949, and of these approximately 1,400 were considered to show some disability.

18

1914 War. 1939 War. ■Wx * A -j-v • « • 1 • , Permanent. Temporary. Total. Permanent. Temporary. Total. 100 1,871 25 1,896 510 946 1,456 90-99 76 76 53 14 67 80-89 426 5 431 218 92 310 70-79 898 9 907 322 231 553 60-69 810 10 820 260 255 515 50-59 2,003 37 2,040 650 578 1,228 40-49 836 33 869 606 595 1,201 30-39 2,015 28 2,043 1,135 | 1,198 2,333 20-29 3,357 54 3,411 3,249 ! 3,739 6,988 10-19 1,244 29 1,273 3,033 5,360 8,393 Under 10 .. 49 49 29 3 32 Total 13,585 230 13,815 10,065 13,011 23,076