The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. MONDAY, JULY 22, 1929. A DEBT OF HONOUR.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 July 1929, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. MONDAY, JULY 22, 1929. A DEBT OF HONOUR.

A northern paper remarks that there are accumulating reasons for a careful investigation of the case of partially incapacitated soldiers, and unemployed soldiers, with a view to examing the possibiiites of special measures for relief. The New Zealand Returned Soldiers Association, when in conference lately, carried a remit on the matter, and the resolution has been considered favourably by the National War Funds Council. The need for remedial measures is frequently brought to notice. Experience has shown that incapacity which may not lie discernible at the time of demobilisation may develop in later years as the result of constitutional strain and other contributory factors during the wad 1 period. No doubt the problem is a difficult one, but it is none tlie less a duty, and in fact an obligation to''he honoured in the most practical manner possible. Apart from the humanitarian side, there is the promise to honour and respect made when the men went forth to war. The country was definitely

commited at the time and it should not be necessary to remind the authorities of the ouligations which are now arising, in referring the matter to the National \\ar unds Council, no doubt the Returned Soldiers Association had in mind the financial issue involved. The cost of the war "ms been very great but the wastage of human health is something which money cannot make good. The best that can be done is to alleviate pain and prevent poverty, ami it is in those directions the relief should come quite as a matter of right in conformity with the promises made on a thousand platforms during the exodus for the front. It. is a fact that Patriotic Societies’ funds are running low. These funds were provided by a. generous public, and those administering the funds are to be congratu.ated on the manner in which tlie money has held out in all the circumstances, in a year or two some of the larger centres will be without tne benefit of the local funds which means a greater responsibility will fall on the National Fund. This in turn will become exhausted, so that Ultimately additional money will have to be provided by the State for liumantarian purposes arising out of war service for men stricken in health. There is still a considerable amount husbanded in the Canteen Funds, and this money might well be app.ied through the National War Funds Council in relieving those special cases which the Returned Soldiers Association has in mind. It lias come under notice that is is difficult to enlist the sympathy of the Pensions Board with post-war disabilities arising in these later years. These are cases particularly in mind. The medical history in many instances i& often the shelter of the Pensions Department for refusing aid after a lapse of time. Men have returned apparent-ly-well and went back to private life in good heart, only to find the strain of the war telling in after years. A man broken in health is likely to lose his grip on his work, and in the end loses employment. There are cases in mind of that nature, and it is in respect to such the relief should be given. It is well therefore that tlie matter is to' bo taken up authoritively by the National War Funds Council. That is a body with greater latitude than the Pensions Department, and timely relief of a temporary nature could be forthcoming which would be of great benefit to- many. The obligations of the country in respect to those broken in health by war service are such that the plain duty in the matter must not be shirked, but a helping hand be offered in the right spirit to redeem tlie promises made.