"T. B." SOLDIERS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 238, 2 July 1920, Page 7

"T. B." SOLDIERS

THE GOVERNMENT'S PROVISION.

Members of Parliament have received a circular 'letter asking that- the provision for the treatment of tubercular soldiers shall be improved, and that tho full pension shall he granted for at least oils year to all returned men discharged from sanitaria. The letter quotes the casts of men who allegedly have been discharged from the sanitoria too 6oon. and without adequate pension. Some-of these cases were put before the House yesterday by Mr. J. M'Combs (LytteltoiO.

Tho Minister of Defence (Hon. J. G. Coates) replied that ho had to be guided by his medical officers, whom he believed to be fully oompetent to deal with the enaes placed in their hands. The Govornmcnt wop anxious to do the right thing, but he had 6een t.he files and knew that there was another side to 6omo of the cases quoted. He intended to ro into the wholo matter; and make sura that every sick soldier had tho best available treatment and a proper and rasonablo,chance.of recovery. Tho pay-, ment of pensions to "T. 8." men was being considered by the Government. ' The effort of the Government to-pro-vide suitable* employment for the "T. 8."; men was mentioned by the Minister of Land? (Mr. Guthrie), who said that suit-; able land was being set apart for settlement by such men. The Repatriation Department tried t<! find light employment for them during the first year after they left tho sanatoria.