TREATMENT OF DISCHARGED SOLDIERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 July 1917, Page 6

TREATMENT OF DISCHARGED SOLDIERS.

| A PARLIAMENTARY DISCUSSION. (Special to News. Wellington, -Tilly fl. The debate that took place in the House of Representatives to-day regardin!; the treatment of discharged soldiers did not produce much new information, hut it had interesting features. The members of the House appear to be unanimous in belie.ving that the arrangements made for the treatment, discharge and pensioning of returned soldiers are' Incomplete, and to some extent defective, tat, they are pen orally prepared to admit that considerable improvements have lieen made as the departments concerned have gathered experience. The claim most strongly urged to-day was that returned soldiers should not be discharged.until they were ready to take civilian employment. Cases were cited of (men being discharged while still in hospital, of men being turned adrift with a small pension 'while still unfit for work, and of delays in connection with payments and pensions. The Minister for Defence insisted that most of the complaints referred to the early days of the system. Ho stated that the medical authorities recommended the discharge of men suffering from shock and nervous complaints, in order that they might have a civilian environment ; that military pay -was not now stopped until a pension became payalble in the case of incapacitated men; and that no man was discharged in hospital unless a pension equivalent to his military pay had been allotted. One passage in the debate indicated what many members believe to be a weak -point in Defence administration. Mr. Tlindmarslv had quoted the ease of returned soldier, a married man, who had been kept waiting more than a month for money due to .him, and who received scant courtesy at the hands of staff men, who were described by the member as "impudent upstarts." Mr. 'lTindmarsli demanded the dismissal of the particular officer responsible for the blunder in this case, as an example to others. The Minister for Defence was on his feet at once with ft protest against any attack Hieing made on men who were "trying to do their duty.' Mr. Tlindinarsh: "You always say that. Thcv are not doing their duty. What about the poor soldier?" The Minister (angrily): "You leave my officers alone." •Sir .Tames Allen's unquestioning loyalty to his subordinate officers, right or wrong, is the cause of half his troubles as Minister for Defence. The debate arose in connection with the presentation of the report qf the Discharged Soldiers Information' Department,' and the Hon. A. L. Herdman, Minister in charge, took the opportunity to say something regarding the work he lias ibeen doing in connection with the replacing of returned soldiers in civilian employment. He mentioned that the great majority of the men did not require any assistance, though it was offered in all cases. The Department so far had (been aible to keep well abreast nf its work, but he realised that the big task would come at the close of the war, and he welcomed advice and assistance from all quarters in dealing with the tremendous problem of demobilisation. He was preparing plans for the training of partially incapacitated men I in suitable trades.