CONSUMPTIVE SOLDIERS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 50, 22 November 1919, Page 6

CONSUMPTIVE SOLDIERS

THEIR FUTURE EMPLOYMENT. The employment of returned soldiers who have umlergoue treat went for tuberculosis is a matter that has been exercising the attention uf the executive of the New Zealand Relumed Soldiers' Association, which considers that it is necessary for a repatriation officer to Ijo appointed to deal solely with _these eases. Tile attitude of the association is outlined in the following letter which has been addressed to tho Director of Repatriation by Mr. D. .1. 11. Seymour, the general secretary, under date November 20;— "Tn resumption of our conversation of yesterday on the subject of the.treatment of tubercular soldiers, I wish -3 convey l.he desire of my association that a repatriation officer—possibly two officers—should bo immediately appointed to deal solely with luburcular men. At the present time tho T.B. being discharged from the sanatorium usually receives full pension for twelve months. Tho number of suitable occupations available is usually very restricted, and ho tends to drift into the towns-and develop tho habits the loafer. From the nature of his di c easo he is disinclined to look for work, which.. T.B. experts are agreed is more vital for his cure than even fresh air. Owing to tho general public fear of infection of T.B. tho soldier is usually- extremely unwilling to bo known to bo suffering from it, and for these reasons the T.B. drops out of communication with nil the intlucjtices which are likoly to be able to help him and rapidly becomo a chronic and hopeless consumptive. It is reliably estimated that there aro eoino ,500 T.B. and C.P.D.I. cases in New Zealand, and it is obvious- that these men can only bo satisfactorily reached, bv personal interview. Mv association wishes to stress tho immediate importance of appointing whatever officers mav As necessary to take the problem in. hand. It would be the duty of such officers to inquire individually into 111# present. position _of every T.B. soldier who has been discharged from hospital treatment with Hie object of discovering whether his work and circumstances are favourable to his recovery. In eases where the T.B. has not already been satisfactorily provided for it will bo the dntv of the T.B. officer to find suitnbl" employment and to arrange for medical supervision where nccesarv. Ho will act ns a communicating link between the Defence Department, Pensions Department and Repatriation Department, and the success of his work /'will largely depend upon his personal fitness. From iwwiries made I am able to say that the proposal has met with the approval of the medical authorities, and I would suggest that representatives of departments and bodies interested should confer in taking the matter in hnnd. I am also in a nnsition to recommend a discharged soldier who is, in the opinion, of iny association, admirably equipped for this work. Trusting that the Board of Repatriation will ngreo with m v executive in its view of the urgency of the matter.—l am. etc.,

''DOUGLAS gmtOUfl, "General Secretary."