RESTORATION OF INJURED SOLDIERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 October 1917, Page 4

RESTORATION OF INJURED SOLDIERS.

In speakihg on the Pensions Bill on Tuesday night, Sir James Allen said that instead of increasing the amount a disabled soldier could receive under clause 4 (Ijhe additional pension clause) from £1 to £2, the cure was to train the man for another occupation, and that was why the Minister in charge of returned soldiers had funds placed at,his disposal for that purpose. We have before remarked that- little is done in the new Pensions Bill towards the restoration of the disabled soldier. In England this aspect of the pensions scheme has been given the consideration its importance merits. The whole aim of the scheme is to fit a man for an* occupation and make him independent and an asset to the community. lie receives his pension according to schedule or his prewar earnings, and, from the authorities' viewpoint, the more he can earn above iiis pension the more valuable he becomes to the State. He is encouraged by the State in every way to equip himBelf for another occupation. His educational and'training fees are paid by the State, and, in addition, he receives a bonus of 5s a week at the completion of his course of training. Meantime, the State sees that his dependents are not

affected. Article 0 of the Royal Warrant ia worth quoting: —"While undergoing treatment or training the disabled or partially disabled man and hiq dependents may receive not less than the higher flat rate pensions for total disablement, or an allowance equal to the man's full pre-war earnings up j £2 10s per week, and half between £2 10s an<T £5, or a maximum of £3 ,5a weekly, during the period in which he is so engaged. Further, the State will pay any charges, fees, or expenses incurred in respect of such treatment and training, and at its termination may grant the man a bonus equal to 5s for each week of the term during which he has been undergoing training." Under I the Bill now before the Parliament of New Zealand authority is given for granting up to the maximum pension while a man is undergoing medical treatment. It says nothing about training, nor about medical treatment. Sir James Allen now says training is to be provided by the Minister in charge of returned soldiers, tip till now, however, very little has been done in this direction by the latter Minister, and, unless statutory provision is made, the training and treatment of disabled soldiers aro likely to be overlooked, especially after thi war. The Minister stated during the course of the second reading debate last week that something would be done towards providing the necessary medical treatment for returned soldiers. A provision to this effect might advantageously be incorporated in the Bill. To show; 'how thorough the British scheme is, and the manifest desire of the authorities to help soldiers to not only reach their pre-war position, but to attain ever a higher standard of comfort, it may be mentioned that in the matter of training the Warrant extends the same privileges to soldiers' widows as to soldiers themselves. The Defence Minister can go further than he has dono in these important respects, and if he does' he will undoubtedly receive the fullest support both from the Houbb and from the country, for everyone is desirous of re-equipping to the fullest possible extent the man who has suffered in the defence of the country, in order to enable him to again fight the battle of life.