TUBERCULOUS SOLDIERS' PENSIONS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 276, 16 August 1920, Page 5

TUBERCULOUS SOLDIERS' PENSIONS

Sir —I beg to occupy a small space in your' correspondence column in protest re the existing regulations regarding returned "T. 8." soldiers' pensions. • llio Government recently announced that "T. 8." patients, upon their discharge froni a sanatorium would be entitled lb a full pension (.£8 13s. 4d. a month) for twelve mouths. Upon the expiration of that period, the soldier would be examined by a medical board, and if tho disease was found to be inac.Svo...the board was empowered to either reduce tho pension or cut it right our. The "T. 8." patient is really permanently disabled even through tho trouble may bo inactive at any period, oi' periods, because for the remainder of his life lie has <b take tho greatest care of what ho does and how lie does it. A limbless man cau, in a short while, becomo accustomed to tho loss of an arm or a leg, and then know just how ho stands in regard lo his employment, etc. A "T. 8." man never knows how or where he stands in regard his employment, for tho simple . reason that his lung is always affected and cannot improve to any extent. Even through bo small a thing ns a cold, worry, ov overwork lie can l:c thrown nghSl back to a condition, necessitating months of rest from work and in all probability a return to a sanatorium. No matter whatf class of business a "T. 8." enters into he is permanently at such a disadvantage that lie is quite unable to compete with other tradesmen. It 19 now «ho duty of the Government to realise the fact that the returned T.B. soldier is permanently disabled, or at tho very least to the extent i|ho limbless nmn is considered disabled. Re should receive sufficient pension, enabling iiim to bo, to a. certain «tcnt. independent) of employment which at the best of times is so uncertain for him—l am, etc., ~