THE DISABLED SOLDIER

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16426, 21 January 1919, Page 5

THE DISABLED SOLDIER

AN ASSOCIATION MOVEMENT

The Auckland Returned Soldiers' Association has called a meeting of all men. who have lost a limb, the'object being to consider what might bo clone to ensure for these men a useful and comfortable ■ future. • Officers of tho Association are very strongly of opinion tnati no more time must be lost in devising means for such disabled men to o© taught useful occupations. Already men who have lost a limb are throngin the ways 'which lead to nowhere, said a member of the executive onj Thursday. "These men left New Zealand in the fullness of their strength. They gave their limbs for their country —their contribution toward the cost or the peace which we. now enjoy 5 but so far their country has done practically nothing for them beyond a pension. What we want to impress upon thej>ublic and Government is tliau a pension is' not the chief consideration in these cases. With the small earnings most of these men are able to make, added to the pension, thev may be able to live, but what of their future? Is this country going to allow these unfortunates to become, by force of circumstances, human wastage? Take the young men who are now driving lifts and doing similar light work. Are they to do that for the rest of their lives 3 Wliat is to become of them, afflicted as most are with 'nerves_,' if their future outlook is eo hopeless? "What we hope to see is a practical scheme adopted by the Government under -which eVery disabled man, who cannot follow his old occupation, will be taught some congenial occupation which will ensure for him a decent future. There are hundreds of such occupations both in-town and country, but many of the disabled men do not realise it, because they have not been shown it. It must be realised by the authorities that most invalided soldiers return to civilian life with greatly reduced, initiative because of their service and injuries, and for that very reason no soulless departmental methods will meet their case. Patience and sympathy would.work miracles. From what I know of these men I am certain that nine, out of ten Would rush tho chance to be taught something worth while, yet at this moment practically no opportunity exists. So far the Government has been quite content to discharge these men to sink or swim."