The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1929. DISABLED SERVICE MEN.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 September 1929, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1929. DISABLED SERVICE MEN.

The member for Clutha, Mr F. Waite, himself an ex-service man, according to the Otago Times, departed, in his speech in the course of the Financial Debate, from the lines of party controversy so industriously followed by o.ner members, in order that he might direct special attention to the position of disabled ex-service men in the Dominion. It was suggested by him that it might be necessary to enact legislation making it compulsory for employers—Government Departmen is were particularly mentioned—to find work for a certain proportion of these disabled men. The ex-service men whom Mr Waite had particularly in mind. be presumed to be of the class of those who aie in receipt of what arevtenred economic pensions in supplement! of their ordinary war pensions—in' other words in receipt of special allowances granted to them because their earning power, plus their war pensions, does not provide them with resources sufficient to meet their needs. The system of economic pensions is unsatisfactory in its effect, as the Minister of Defence observed in the House of Representatives in a speech in which he acknowledged the usefulness of the representations that were made by Mr Waite. More inv portant than the concession of pensions that will enable them to keep the wolf from the door is provision for disabled ex-service men of such a kind as will enable them to work and earn re-

numeration according to their capacity. As the Minister emphasised, the man who, though able to do a. certain amount 'of work, has no.lung to do but draw a pension, is apt to deteriorate. A proposal, therefore, by the Government under which, as it was outlined by Mr Wilford, a substitute for the economic position will be created in the provision of a means whereby those who are now in receipt of this pension may be able to earn its equivalent ,or more, is to be welcomed in so far as it may be practicable. Various problems arise out of the situation in which disabled ex-ser-vice men find themselves, and the solution of them often presents serious difficulties. It / is, however, very desirable that those among the number of ihese men who, through the lack of employment that is suited to their condition, are in danger of slipping back into a state that might lead to their becoming unemployable, should be assisted to play a more self-reliant and active part in the life of the community. As Mr Waite observed, it is not a question of the inadequacy of the pensions, but one of a remedy for circumstances in which “men’s lives were being wasted and frittered away, and they were losing confidence in themselves because nothing was being done to fit them, for doing something which would be useful to themselves and to tne 'State.” The, public will watch with sympathetic interest the progress of the steps which the Government proposes to take in order to help men such as .Mr Waite, lias described to utilise, their abilities to the best advantage, j;