THE REHABILITATION OF SOLDIERS.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 December 1929, Page 5

THE REHABILITATION OF SOLDIERS.

THE COMMISSION. CASE OF EX-IMPERIAL MEN. WELLINGTON, Dec. 12. The Soldiers' Rehabilitation Commission sat again to-day. Evidence in regard to men who had received head wounds or shock was given by Ah' A. V. Baker, of Waipawa, rrom experiences gained at the Surrey County Alental Hospital, at Eorrkwood, and Netherne, which caused the chairman, Air Barton, to remark that the public would have to realise that they were not finished with this class of man yet. “Men who came from other parts of the British dominions and who have now broken down in health are not the responsibility of any local patriotic fund and apparently the National War Funds Council cannot continue to grant assistance,” said Air .1. Alason, President of the/Napier Returned Soldiers’ Association. “Some reciprocal arrangement should be made and T think whatever, further assistance is recommended by the commission, it should be made clear that such assistance is not for the benefit of men who may come here in the future, otherwise we will have an influx ol men who are desirous of obtaining all the benefits conferred on New Zealand returned soldiers.” “A most inexplicable thing to us is the Imperial Government,” remarked

Mr ,1. S. Barton, S.M. (chairman of the commission). “Earl Jellicoe went home fully apprised of the serious nature of the problem -md .simply battered himself uselessly against official silence. He had to admit having accomplished nothing. Other officers have fared the same way. The members of the Government seem to shelter behind the permanent heads and the permanent heads think men were made for the rules and not the rules for the men. I hope the new Home Commissioner can do something. There are twenty thousand Imperial men in this country. It is a very heavy burden. If we did do anything we would simply invite others to come out. Ihe net result of continual applications bv influential bodies here has been nil.”