TUBERCULAR SOLDIERS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 271, 12 August 1919, Page 6

TUBERCULAR SOLDIERS

■ r-« —■ PENSION DIFFICULTY OVERCOME. Tho Pensions Board had difficulty until recently in dealing with the eases of soldiers suffering from tuberculosis, especially in these cases in which the sickness had boeojno apparent some time after Hie return of the soldier to this country. The difficulty of the tatrd was that wliilo they are bound by the Act not to gn 0 pensions except it can be clearly s.iown that the disability from which the soldier is suffering has been caused or aggravated by war service, they could nob always satisfy themselves that tho illness of theso men was due to war service. Sir James Allen said yesterday Hint tne board had had more recent medical evidence which enabled it to connect tho tubercular disease with, war service. Members of the board had recognised from the beginning that the suftererS from tubercular disease, were uiidfT a gimt hardship, but t'eLt that in their positions as members of the Pensions Board the law would not allow them to rive relief. They were only too anxious to give relief if'they wero advised that it was competent for them to do fo. and a number of ease: lmd V.ready been re-, viewed, with advantage'to. tho-soldiers concerned.