RETURNED SOLDIERS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2678, 26 January 1916, Page 6

RETURNED SOLDIERS

THEIR COMPLAINTS EXAMINED

MINISTER'S REPLY

.Tho complaints made ijo Dr. Thacker, M.P., by returned soldiers - regarding their treatment by the military authorities—and reported in The Dominion on Monday—have been .the subject of. inquiry, by the Defence authorities. Tho result: of this investigation was communicated to a. reporter yesterday by the Minister of Defence (the Hon. J. Allen) in the following statement: — '."Dr. Hacker mentioned some specific cases giving such .details, as; would appear to indicate that he hadliit npon some real grievances.. - But what are tho actual.facts?. '

George Ditley was recommended for discharge, and: civil occupation by the Medical Board on January 14. Ditley complained that lie had'not' go his pay. _ That was one-'tif . his grievances. He said there, was £7,105'. due to him, which he had not got. As a matter •of fact, £7.105. was posted to Ditley on December 9, but; he did not receive it.becaufce ho had not notified his change of .address..Soldiers'are'warned" ill (the Returned Soldiers' 'Handbook that oil every occasion that thoy cliango their address they have to notify Headquarters. If a man does not. in-, form .us .of bis change of address what else can we do but send, the money to tho address left with us?' That we did in the case of Ditley. It filtered through to' Ditley, and on January 21 it was notified by the Auckland Defenco Office that . Ditley had received the £7 10s. warrant.

• "In the case of Sydney Robert Phillips (12/2081), this: soldier's marriage has not been reported to Defence Headquarters. The attestation paper states that lie is s unmarried, his next-of-kin being his sister, Mrs. Holmes. He was recommended for discharge and civil occupation. He has been paid in full up to January 7, and the balance up.to February 4 has been posted N .to him.

'"Walter Joseph, x William Thorpe (12/1807), whose case is also'mentioned ly Dr. Thacker, arrived by tho Tahiti on September. 11; He was sent to tho I 'Auckland /Hospital for treatment. . He was latter in the Epsom Convalescent Home, and reported as very seriously , ill on October 20. He was examined by the Medical Board and given extended sick leave till December 3. On November- 26 he was again examined .by the" Medical Board, and at his own request he was recommended for discharge. The Medical Board' reports that he left the Auckland Hospital contrary to instructions. Dr. Hope Lewis twice . examined": the .'.man'." and '■ recommended his, discharge and. that' an. application be. made to the Pensions Board. The . Pensions ' Board granted him 255. per week for three months '.from December 10, the date of his discharge, and the first payment was mado on January 10. Thorpe has been paid in'full except for the deduction of £2 awaiting "the receipt of'accounts from the.overseas base/depot as pro: vided for on-page 34 of. tho Returned Soldiers' Handbook.". '■

There irai only one casjTin the list given by Dr. Thacker in 'which the Health Department was concerned, .namely, that of Charles Angrove, on "whose statement (as. published in The •DojnNiON on Monday) Dr. Herbert, medical.superintendent at Rotorua, reported, inter alia, as follows:—"The, statement is absolutely. untrue. Angrove arrived on the evening of January 17. He :was at once admitted and seen by the assistant medical officer, and- told to attend my .usual morning inspection of nil new patients at 9.30 next morning. Ho did not appear, and I am since informed Teturiied to Auckland next day." ■ '

The Hon. 6. W. Russell, Minister of Justice' stated yesterday -tEairho hal received: a further telegram from. Dr. Herbert with reference to the case of lAngrove,' stating: "I am' informed" he left for Auckland on the 25th, not the 18th.; .Otherwise 1 the facts are. as already sta.ted. He went in company with Sapper .Miller, whom I also reported as absent without leave." N.Z. AND AUSTRALIA;' COMPARED. By; 'Telegrauli—Press Association. Auckland, January 2-1. .Comparisons have been made oil several occasions recently between the' methods adopted by Australia and New Zealand in the treatment of, soldiers' returned from active service! -These, comparisons have generally been' in'.dis. paragcment of the New Zealand policy, and the opportunity was taken to-night by' tho Prime Minister to explain that the position" had not been fairly stated. 'A statement made by one soldier was that on his return from the firing lino the Australian is permitted to travel free on the railways, and when (fc charged is allowed £10' to purchase civilian clothing: He made a contrast' by stating that the New Zealander is allowed only a suit of clothes, or, as an alternative, the sum of 30s. Inquiries have been made by Mr. ■Massey, and he has been advised that -on his return from the firing line the Australian soldier, is given a free rail-way-pass'during his furlough, and by that term Mr; -Massey understands the period. between recovery and return to camp, or'discharge. No money is given for the purchase of civilian clothing unloss in exceptional cases, but;on discharge the soldier is given clothing "to' tho value of _£1. ;Tho provision made in these respects for returned soldiers in New Zealand is. explained in the official hand-book. A ticket entitling tho holder to travel free on all Government Railways, including- free meals on the dining-cars, is granted for a period of. three weeks to all returned' soldiers whilo on furlough, and free ticketsare given to . any man on-sick leave, when.'the Medical Board considers he is fit''to travel. Upon arrival in New Zealand, the clothing equipment of every soldier is completed to two uniforms, with great-coat, hat, cap, and kit bag, boots, and underclothing. This equipment becomes tho. of the soldier on discharge, and lie is specially recommended to preserve one uniform in good order for : special occasions. On discharge, he.receives in addition one suit of plain clothes and a cap or an equivalent of 30s.