DISABLED MEN

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 34, 7 October 1946, Page 6

DISABLED MEN

TRAINING FARM REHABILITATION PROJECT A training farm for physically disabled ex-servicemen has been established near Balmerston North, says a statement from the Rehabilitation Board. For this purpose a property of approximately 60 acres, situated on Milsor? Line about. three miles from that city has been acquired. The farm, which is to be administered by the Disabled Servicemen’s Re-establishment League as agent for the Rehabilitation Board; will accommodate 20 ex-servicemen, besides the farm staff. In the initial stages activities will be confined to dairying, pig and poultry farming and market gardening; but ultimately it is hoped to include fruit growing, seed raising, horticulture, beekeeping apd flower cultivation. The type of ex-serviceman to be selected for training will be men who are physically disabled, have a rural background and are considered to have prospects of eventual successful settlement as farmers on their own account, although possibly in a different line from what they have previously followed. Accommodation arranged will be for single men only. There will be one-man huts which will contain a bed (with mattress and pillow), tallboy and chair; trainees will provide their own blankets and bed linen. They will also be expected to do their own laundering, for which facilities will be provided. Meals will be served in a social room, which will in addition be used for recreation. 'Over a two-year training period wages will commence at £5 5s gross and rise to £5 10s gross, there being a deduction of £1 a week where boad is provided. Wages will be subsidised on a sliding scale principle by ‘the Rehabilitation Board. Trainees for the farm will be selected by the chairman of the local rehabilitation farming sub-commit-tee in consultation with the nearest League Liaison Committee; but exservicemen interested should get in touch with their local rehabilitation office in the first instance.

Also acting under the aegis of the Rehabilitation Board, the Disabled Servicemen’s - Re - establishment League is establishing a training centre near Napier which will make provision for training men in horticulture.. A grant for the purpose of establishing this centre was recently approved by the Government.