R. Boudreau of Sormany, N.B., is a veteran suffering from a nervous disease. His application for a Veteran's pension was turned down, in spite of repeated requests laying his case before the Allocations Commission. Finally he received a letter, dated April 13 last, telling him to report for a new examination at Lancaster. He answered thus:
Dear sir:
..... I must warn you that I am getting tired of being treated in the manner in which you are treating me. Why must you be so devious in getting around to telling me that I'm not sufficiently infirm to get a bit of a pension?
I have already been in the hospital at Lancaster to undergo a very extensive examination last February, they kept me for 22 days and then sent me home. And I still have the same sickness I had then. I am still a man suffering from... a nervous disease and unable to earn a living for my family,".
Does a man have to be dead before you decide to come to his aid ? I am beginning to believe that you're there, not to help sick veterans, but to hinder their being helped...
It was not thought necessary to make me pass two or three examinations before sending me to the battle field. But when the time comes to help a veteran you subject him to all sorts of humiliating conditions, you pass him through the third degree as if he were suspected of some crime...
I am completely discouraged. I have no more hope. Put yourselves in my place, and you will see what it is to live under such circumstances... Stop thinking only of yourselves. Don't hide behind such-and-such a law; a law or a regulation has no life. But use your judgment to help a human being. Have you never known what it is.... to live in perpetual misery? I wouldn't wish that even on you, "...
... - Go to Lancaster to undergo another examination ? I don't think I'm up to such a trip in my condition. I can't even go to church; how do you expect me to go to Lancaster ?
If you are still ignorant of the seriousness of my illness, then perhaps you will have evidence enough of it in the near future; because the way things are going now I can't give you any assurance that the worst may be avoided. If you decide to do something for me then do it quickly. I need help right away, not in three or six months. Furthermore, I am holding you responsible for all the consequences now and for the future. You took the trouble of mentioning in your letter that I would not receive any allocation during my time in the hospital. A very comforting bit of news! Do you think my family is going to live on thin air in the meantime? How can anyone be so hardhearted towards human beings?
I was called on to defend my country. Was it to defend the kind of liberty and security I'm sharing in now? Be sure of one thing; you are not done with me yet. I will fight to the very utmost of my ability to make my rights respected. Whatever decision you take in my case I will make known to the right people.
R. BOUDREAU
Note from the editor. This letter. got results. MrBoudreau did not have to go to Lancaster. He got his allocation. Mr. Boudreau is the brother of Mrs. Amédée Daigle, a staunch Crediter of Sormany.