DISABLED SERVICEMEN

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 65, 20 December 1946, Page 3

DISABLED SERVICEMEN

AN OPPORTUNITY The Disabled Servicemen’s ReEstablishment League (Inc.) have acquired a property of approximately sixty acres, three miles north of Palmerston North. Here a farm is in the process of being established for the training of disabled servicemen which should make a special appeal to the physically disabled who have a rural background, and whose wish it is to be ultimately settled on farms of their own; In the initial stages, activities will be confined to dairying, pig and poultry farming, also market gardening. Later on it is hoped to include fruit, seed raising, horticulture, bee-keeping and flower cultivation. Training will be for a period of two years at a commencing wage of £5 5s per week for the first year, thereafter two increases, of 2/6 will bring the wage for the final six months to £5 10s-per week. A deduction of £T per week will be made for keep. This will ensure a commencing nett wage for the trainee of £4 5s per week. The farm will be able to absorb twenty servicemen, for whom single accommodation will be provided in excellent 1-man huts complete with the requisite amenities for comfort, trainees being required to provide blankets and bed linen only.. Any disabled serviceman of World War II who is in receipt of a War Disability Pension of 40 per cent. (245) or over, is eligible for training. This eligibility clause also apples to servicemen who, although the war pension may be below the 40 per cent, standard, also suffer some civil disability, which combined would place him within the required category. This farm training scheme of the League is a most commendable one, and will certainly provide a muchneeded opportunity for those servicemen who wish to follow an outdoor occupation. Conditions leave little to be desired. Training will be supervised by the manager who is a practical farmer. Comfortable quarters with the additional privacy of the oneman, one hut system, a plentiful supply of wholesome food, and the varied social relaxations which can be enjoyed in the company of fellow Kiwis in a special recreational hall, make the farm the ideal training ground for the primary producer of the future.

Training at the farm has commenced. A dairy herd already goes through the modern milking shed twice daily, and market gardens are taking shape. A hay paddock has been set aside. Ploughing is in progress, and one can in general easily distinguish the pattern of things to come.

There are still vacancies, and all who are interested and eligible, are strongly urged to seek further details from their nearest Rehabilitation Officer, or direct from the Disabled Servicemen’s Re-Establish-ment League (Inc.), P.O. Box 1426, Parnell Road, Auckland.