T.B. MEN.

Digger (Invercargill RSA), Issue 19, 23 July 1920, Page 8

T.B. MEN.

The trearnent meted out to T.B. men do.es not seem to be all that is desired, despite ministerial assurances. Our minds are still frcsh with the circumstances of the travelling Medical Board which toured ihe country, and discharged men who nequired t,3eatment for some time, tio. come. Their wings were to some extent clipped by the widespread disappro\al of returned soldiers, backed by public opiniou. It would seem, from the position of men who have received treatment at the Cashmere Hills Sanatorium, that men are still discharged who shou'ld be under treatment. The assur lice of Mr Guthrie that everything possible was being done for these men does not satisfactorily explain the unsatisfactory set of conditions existing. The statement that men in sanatoria wero being treated by the medical staff under the Defence Department is all very well, but where we complain is that the department seem too anxious to get these men oft their hands. The "after care" officers, that the Minister assures us are distributed throughout the length and

breadth of the country, have cei'tainly become more prominent since the R.S.A. Conference entered its emphatic disapproval of the treatment of T.B. men. Prior to that, it is very questionable if the majority of men knew of these officers. Mr Guthrie's explanation of the special areas of land set aside for these men is beside the question, and the question is | purely one of treatment of soldiers whilst in sanatoria, and also the question of pension when they are discharged. No doubt some of the uninitiated will charge the R.S.A. of grousing, and here is a sample of what we aro grousing aboutu : — A man returned to New Zealand certied T.B., admitted Cambridge Sanatorium. Discharged, pension 100 per cent. for six months. Re-examined ly Pensions Board doctor ; pension reduced to £1 10s per week, and told to go to work. Patient states could hardly walk at time. Takes to bed within two months. Admitted to Cashmere Military Sanatorium as an incurabie. Later, died at Cashmere on the 28th June, 1920. Returned to N.Z. in June 1919. Discharged fit A. Undertook farming under Discharged Soldier.s' Settlement Act. After six months was medically examined (Dr. Woodward), diagnosed T.B.. Doctor opined lack of thorouglmess in examination by army medical ollicer. Returned to N.Z. in February, 1919. Out-patient for three months. Admitted Cashmere Civilian Sanatorium. Five months' treatment; pension 87g per cent. for six months. Undertook farm work ; relapse; pension 1C0 per cent. six monthe from May, 1920. Admitted Cashmere Sanatorium in June 1920. Returned to N.Z. certified T.B. positive. Admitted to Cashmere Sanatorium, then transferred to Cambridge Sanatorium; discharged, marked improvement. Two months after pension expires. Reexamined by Pensions Board doctor and reduced to £1 per week pension. Tries farm work and breaks down. Tries gardening with same result. Gets position as sculleryman in boarding house ; is • discovered ill by medical officer in charge Cashmere Military Sanatorium, who happens to be boarding there. Admitted Cashmere Military Sanatorium, and has been in the institution ten months to date. These are the wrongs the R.S.A. are continually striving to adjust and yet we find returned soldiers who do not seem to have their comrades interest sufficiently at heart to link up with the Association and assist in bringing pressure to bear upon the authorities to provide a remedy for them. In not one sphere of R.S.A. activity has the Government moved until the utmost pressure was brought- to bear upon it. This haphazard method of dealing with T.B. men can only involve the country in needless expense as the cost will be infmitely greater than had they received adequate treatment in the beginning.