EXTENSION OF PRIVILEGES REJECTED

Chronicle (Levin), 22 May 1946, Page 8

EXTENSION OF PRIVILEGES REJECTED

: ConsidOring that it would "opcn the door toO wide" and wouid include as rehabilitation subjects nien and women for whose re-establishment New Zealand was not morally responsible, the jRehabilitation Boai'd at its last meeting rejected a propnsal that eligibility under the Rehabilitation Act should be extended to apply to ex-servicemen borii in New Zealand but not ordinarilv fesidfent in the Dominion within the present t'erhls of tne Act. In its delinition of "servicemen" the Rehabilitation Act ineludes onlvi those persons who were ordinarilv resi- 1 dent in.New Zealand during their war sdrvice. The liehabilitation Act Exten- 1 sion Order, 1945, extended that definition to include ex-servicemen who had served in his Majestv ;s Armed Forces ! or Allied Forces or Merchant Navy and1 Who though not ordinarilv resident in j New Zealand hhd previously been s,o resident for a period or periods exceed- j ing ten years. In addition, all men and | women who had served in the New Zea-j land Forces are, of course, tecognised under the Act. The question raised was " whether , steps should be taken to include ser- j vicemen whose service was with the ' forces of other Dominions or ^Allied ; nations, but who, although born in New: Zealand, did not have the .10 years'! residential qualiflcation, vet wished to take up pevmanent residence in' the Dominion. Menibers or Ihe board eonsidercd that such servicemen would be covered by any teciprocal benefits agreement that liii.ght be made ainong iTtnpne countries.