LIMBLESS MEN

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 17, 14 October 1921, Page 4

LIMBLESS MEN

PENSIONS AND CLOTHING ALLOWANCE REFORf TO N.Z.R.S.A. EXECUTIVE A report on matters affecting limbless men was presented recently to the Dominion Executive of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association. The conditions existing at tho various limb factories were shown to bo eatisfaorory, and it was stated that there had been only minor complaints as to the type of work carried out. A recommendation from tho Canterbury district that complete factories ba set up at each centre was not accepted elsewhere, and the present system was favoured. This system, whereby standard parts aro made at the central depot in-Wellington ana fitting and ordinary repairs only are done at the other centres, enables centralisation of work with tho consequential advantage of such work being done by a specialist in each branch. 'Tensions aro not satisfactory,” the report stated, "and the limbless men are unanimous that tho amount should be increased and the. scale regraded to alter tho anomalies which at present exist, e.g., a man suffering the loss of both feet receives -t!2 per week, while tho loss of a leg through the hip means a pension of only Sts. per week. This matter comes within tho application of tho New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association for a general increase and regrading of pensions and is receiving its attention. The supply of stump ' stocks was also thoroughly investigated. Although those at present supplied aro not, in tho opinion of most amputees, as good as those, supplied when the patients were fitted in England, they are fairly satisfactory and as a largo supply of this type is at present in hand nt a heavy cost it was decided not to take any further action in the matter at present. “A further remit from Canterbury district recommended that a limbless oxecutivo bo set up for the Dominion, ono man for each province. All tho other centres did not approve of this and expressed confidence that tho executive of the N.Z.R.S.A. was quite competent to deal with matters affecting limbless men and that it was better for all that the present system should bo continued. Tho executive decided, therefore, that it was neither necessary nor advisable that a limbless executive should be formed. “The Wellington Returned Soldiers’ Association recommended that the limb factory employees should bo accepted as permanent Civil servants, and made eligible for superannuation. It was felt that tho limbless men should' receive tho best workmanship available, and that to ensure this the factory employees should receive every encouragement to remain in this class of work. The Standing Sub-Committee recognised the justice and wisdom of this recommendation, and it was decided to leave the matter with the sub-committee for the necessary action. “Tho most serious matter affecting limbless men besides pensions was the necessity of obtaining a clothing allowance. Details from individual men in each centre revealed that an. annual grant was desirable. The wear and tear on clothing in the case of leg amputees was particularly heavy. Tho braces of tho limb cause serious damage to underclothing, the limb itself wears out the trousers very, quickly, while a sock wears out in from three to seven days. The individual reports received from the members proved this, and further showed that leg amputees incurred extra, cost in clothing considerably exceeding AID per year. In arm cases ihe wear and tear was not so heavy, and in most cases there was none, ns \;iost of these men do not wear their artificial arms. After consideration the sub-committee recommended that tho authorities should bo approached with a view of obtaining annual clothing grants to limbless men as follow:—(a) Above knee amputations, AlO per year; (h) below knee amputations A 8 per year; (c) arm amputation' (only in cases where the limb is continually worn), an amount not exceeding JJ3 to bo fixed by the A.D.M.S. on individual application. Through-knee amputations were to be treated as above-knee amputations, and Symes amputations (through ankle) wero not included in the recommendations. It was also recommended that for this grant double amputees be treated as single amputees. This recommendation was approved by the executive, and was left in the hands of, the Standing Sub-Committee for action.” It was noted that 1029 amputees had returned to New Zealand, and that 944 of these were now alive. Of this number, 22 had lost two limbs.