UNFIT MEN

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 22, 21 October 1919, Page 3

UNFIT MEN

DISCHARGED AS FIT

PROVISION FOR TRAINING

Tha training of fit men in trades fonhed the subject of a report submitted to the conference of the NXH.S.A. yesteidav by the Repatriation Committee. Tho report of tlio committee was that (hern wan a tendency to overlook the claims of. tho fit men, and it recommended:— (a) Unskilled men.—These should bo eligible for training in a trade under the subsidised wages'scheme. (b) Dying Trades.—That men whose traoes are dying out owing to industrial prosress be eligible for training under the subsidised wages. (c) (l) Men discharged as (it, but who contend they are not, in fact, in the same physical condition as tlioy were before enlistment. These men should be allowed an independent medical examination nt the expense of the Department, as to whether a change of occupation is desirable. (2) Men whose former trade lins become distasteful owing to war service should be eligible for training under the subsidised wages scheme. (d) Men who have lost opportunity bv war service Mr. T. Long (Auckland) said that hundreds of men were being discharged as fit when they were really unfit. He nuotei! from a letter by a former medical officer in Ihe N.Z.E.F., which stated' that a man had been discharged as fit, and was consequently debarred from obtainii.'ir a pension. This man suffered from heart disease, and could no longer follow his occupation of mining. There \Vert! nnmbcrs of other such cases, and something seemed to be wrong. The speaker. trusted that it was not a fact that instructions were being given by the Defence Department to medical officers on transports to discharge as many men as possible as fit. The matter needed' immediate attention by the au thorities. Mr. J. D. Harper (Wellington) said tho "Pensions Board coild not be blamed if such men did not receive pensions because the board was guided by the last report of the medical officer. He knew of 110 instructions having been eiven to medical officeis by the Defence Department. Captain ft. P. Jone3 (Dnnedin) said thatwhere a man had been passed "Fit A" for nctive sivrvice there could be 110 suggestion of pre-war disability. Medical officers who examined men on discharge should be officero who had seen active nen-ice. Tho report was adopted.