REHABILITATION

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 6, Issue 59, 26 March 1943, Page 5

REHABILITATION

BOARD CHAIRMAN'S VISIT POST AVAR ADJUSTMENT ! An informative outline of the programme of rehabilitation in the after-war period was given to a representative muster of local body members and citizens at a special meeting addressed by Mr M. Moohan, chairman of the National Rehabilitation Board, last Tuesday evening in . the Whakatane Borough Council Chambers. Those present, included members of the County and Borough Councils of Whakatane and Opotiki, the. Domain Board, the Chamber of Commerce, the R.S.A., the Bay of Plenty PoAver Board and the Labour Party. The Mayor, Mr B. S. Barry, presided and Mr W. Sullivan, P.M.,, introduced the speaker. Mr Moohan said that local rehabilitation committees, could and would be. set up in all centres AA T liere it Avas desired to further the interests of the soldiers returning from overseas. The secretary Avould be a govern--ment officer and in Whakatane would, be the Social Security and Manpower Officer. Any soldier who felt he had a grieA'ance Avould be at liberty to approach the committee and have his complaint considered and if a reasonable one. adjusted." The committee Avould Avorlc through the Rehabilitation Officer at. Rotorua Avhere the records would be kept. 160,000 in Armed Forces Mr Moohan said that there AA r ere no iless than, 160,000 men in the armed forces, Avhich amounted, to 50 per cent of the male adult population of New Zealand. It could be guaged from this figure the immensity of the task ahead. It Avas in the meantime only necessary to attend to the invalided men returning from the Avar theatres and it was hoped to interpret, the regulations in the Avidest possible sense. It Avas not intended to put men into 'blind alley' jobs. Every effort would be made to find a decent type of occupation for them and for this reason A~oeational centres had been established, one of Avliich AA'as now completed in Wellington. The men could be taught carpentry, footAvear manufacture or mechanical pursuits. College courses Avere also aA r ailable. The men avouUl be paid ;V> 5s Avcckly rising to £G Gs after the first year Avith a Gs subsidy for each child. In addition men desiring to fol!oav up a profession were given £5 5s Aveekly and free school books. The Government Avould also establish training farms for those willing to go on the land. Building Avas, going to play an important part in the post Avar conditions. Already in Wellington there were 8000 avlio were dissatisfied Avitli their housing conditions Avhile the Dominion figures totalled 22,000 applications. When all the men returned, it Avould be seen just Avhat a problem Avas going to arise. The creation of neAV homes Avould lead tq a big demand for furniture and this too Avas related to the building trade. To assist in the founding of homes the GoA'crnmcnt was prepared to make loans of £100 free of interest and further loans for the purchasing of house properties or farms. The constitution of the local habilitation committees would comprise members nominated by the following bodies: Local authorities (1), R.S.A. (1), Organised Labour (-), Businessmen or farmers (1), W.W.S.A. (1), the M.P. for the district and the paid GoA r crnmcnt official acting as secretary. The committee could appoint sub committees to act under its,control. An enquiry front an Opof\ ; delegate as to Avhetlicr it Avould, be possible to constitute a separate committee for that town brought a reply in the affirmative, and it w.as resolved to take steps to do so. The meeting decided to instruct Mr Saunders, the toAvn clerk, to call for nominations for the local committee without delay. The meeting concludcd with a vote! of thanks to Mr Moohan for his instructiA'e address.