15

EL—2B

We recommend that the matter be cleared up by statutory provision being made for medical treatment to be granted to ex-members of the Forces for disabilities which render them eligible to be granted a war pension, and that authority be also given to make the necessary regulations. Regrading of Scheduled Injuries. There is a further-matter introduced by Dr. Izard which calls for attention— viz., that there should be a regrading of the scheduled injuries by three orthopaedic specialists. The reasons for this are given in Dr. Izard's evidence. He points out that a man who loses his leg above the knee gets £l 12s. a week, but the man who loses his leg at the hip-joint and is condemned to a life lon crutches only gets 2s. a week more. Dr. Izard also states : " I think experience has shown that the artificial hand is a failure. When the schedule was made out it was anticipated that artificial hands were going to be successful." We recommend that the schedule be regraded, with the provision that the percentages of the present schedule are not to be reduced in any case. Attendant's Allowance. The final matter calling for our attention is that of the amount of allowance where the services of an attendant are indispensable. The present allowance is not exceeding £l a week. We regard this as quite inadequate, as it would not pay for an attendant's food. The number of the cases must be small, and such cases are particularly deserving of more generous treatment. We recommend a maximum of £3 a week, in the discretion of the Board. As akeady indicated, we are not directly concerned with the question of finance, but have based our recommendations on what is a reasonably adequate payment to the different classes of pensioners in the varying circumstances enumerated in our report. We append a table showing a summary of annual liability for war pensions : — £ Year ended 31st March, 1917 ~ .. .. 257,771 1918 .. .. .. 904,383 1919 .. .. .. 1,615,827 1920 .. .. .. 1,869,366 1921 .. .. .7 1,748,865 1922 .. .. .. 1,513,263 In conclusion, as will be apparent from our report, we have found many of the questions dealt with of the utmost complexity and difficulty. We have avoided burdening this report with a lengthy detailed reference to the evidence. An examination of the evidence will emphasize the difficulties referred to. We present our report in the hope that the conclusions we have arrived at may be regarded as a useful contribution towards settlement of the grave issues calling for attention. We desire to record our appreciation of the excellent manner in which the case for the soldiers was presented by Messrs. D. S. Smith and D. J. B. Seymour, and also our indebtedness to Brigadier-General Sir. Donald McGavin, Director-General of Medical Services, and to Mr. G. C. Fache, Secretary to the Pensions Board and Commissioner of Pensions, for much valuable information, and for records, reports, &c, which were of material assistance to us. We also thank the numerous other witnesses who assisted us by appearing and giving evidence. We have the honour to surrender our Commission into Your Excellency's hands. We have, &c, J. R. Bartholomew. W. H. Sefton Moorhouse. Wellington, 16th October; 1922. A Macintosh -

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