Is War Already Forgotten?

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 12, Issue 56, 16 June 1948, Page 5

Is War Already Forgotten?

REHAB. MAN SAYS PUBLIC APATHETIC Since he became employed full time on rehabilitation work, Mr C. Blackie, investigating accountant, Rehabilitation . Department, told the Borough Council on Monday night, he had found 90 per cent of the people were apt to forget there had ever been a war. At least half of the people who came back expecting to re-establish themselves in business were still ' waiting. One of the reasons was that established businesses were being charged out at such excessive goodwill that they were quite beyond the average ex-serviceman. Another was the difficulty of building to establish new businesses. He considered that by early next year at any rate commercial building permits might become available, and sought the Council’s co-opera-tion in helping ex-servicemen to find sections on which to build business premises. Mr Blackie said he was a bit disillusioned when he got back from the war, but the Whakatane Rehabilitation Committee was one of the most heartening and helpful things he had run against since his return. Councillors assured Mr Blackie they always had done their best to help ex-servicemen where possible and always would do so, but it was pointed out that the Council had no land available just now, though it was suggested the Harbour Board might have.