INCREASED BENEFITS FOR HOME SERVICE

Chronicle (Levin), 2 August 1946, Page 2

INCREASED BENEFITS FOR HOME SERVICE

—Press Association

POINTS SYSTEM PLANNED

Bv Telegravh-

WELLINGTON, July 31. Some former home servico men and women can e.xpect some good news shortly in the form of increased rehabilitation beneiits under a points systeni xvhich is now being worked out by the Government. A full statement from the iSIinister of Kehabilitution, .M r. Skinnor, is expeeted in about a lyeok. From what-is known of the revised rehabilitatiou scheme for rlischarged home servicemen, a points systeni based on le-ngth of servico in. New Zealand will be the foundation. Tt appears, liowever that only those with comparati vely long mobilisod servioe, say four or iive years, or those ivith a reasonable iengtli of servicc in garrison ditties, will benelit to any great extent. House Preference Unlikely. It is extremely unlikely that former home servicemen will be grnnted any preference in the allocatiou of State rental houses such us the 5U per eent. now given to overseas ex-servicemen, but those with sutticient points will probably becoine eligible for the 3 per cent. rehabilitatiou loans for the purchuse or erection of houses. ('•onferences have been held recentlv between the Minister and the New Zealand Home >Ser\ icenien 's Association, but some details have yet to be worked out bofore the announc.ement is maile. From the sturt of the rohabilitation scheuie discharged home servico men and women have been regsmled as eligible for all rehaldlitatiou beneiits, but certain limitalions such as the sliortage of labour and uialerials foreed Ihe Government. to introduce a systeni of priorities, particularly for housing and farm loans. It has been made plain by the Minister that home servicemen will eventually participate in all beneiits, but. that meu with overseas servico should be given some preference. Duration of Eligibility. - Although uo timo has been Jixerl by law, the Minister has also stated that rehabilitatiou beneiits will extend for U) years after a man 's diseharge from the fttrces. At present home servicemen are entitled to a free-of-iuterest furniture loan of £100. Individual circunistances are taken into consideration, and although home serviceiueii do not* automatically qualify for such loans as housing aud farms, a glancc at the returns of the Rehabilitatiou Board will show that a number through exeeptional personal eJaims actually have benelit ed. Judgmcnt on the points systetn-will have to be withheld until full details are known, but it is obvious that with limber and labour still short, some line has to be drawn between those home servicemen avIio served lengthy terms and suffered hardship and those who were in canip only for a period ofj months.