WAR PENSIONS.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 October 1922, Page 6

WAR PENSIONS.

SITTING OF THE COMMISSION, SIR D. McGAVIN’S EVIDENCE. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Oct. 5. Giving evidence before the War Pensions Commission to-day, Sir Donald MeGavin said the medical treatment of returned soldiers was now in the hands of the Pensions Department. This was not altogether satisfactory. Provision was required for the treatment of disabilities for which the pensions are being granted. He admitted the wear and tear caused by artificial limbs, but various means could be adopted to prevent excessive wear. The pensions now were much above those provided by the Royal warrant so some allowance was 'already made, though, it might not have been intended to cover the wear described. The appeal system available to pensioners was much more complete than anything that could be substituted. The medical boards were not functioning now because there was not enough for them to do. It was much cheaper to pay fees to specialists when necessary. The chief difficulty now was not so much to decide to what ailments must be attributed as to satisfy applicants that all their ailments were not due to war service. Fewer applications were being granted and this was causing discontent. Neurasthenic cases caused much difficulty, some had never been beyond England* or heard a -shell explode. If neurasthenia was due to war service every returned man could be expected to be a sufferer. Replying to a suggestion that an independent appeal board, not necessarily experts, was desirable, Sir Donald stated that it was impossible for a layman to interpret the technical evidence of a medical expert.