MILES AHEAD OF N.Z.

Chronicle (Levin), 21 May 1947, Page 7

MILES AHEAD OF N.Z.

WHAT AUSTRALIA DOES FOR WAR VETERANS New Zealand's rehahilitation schemes generally are distinctly in advance of those in Australia, hut so far as caring for veterans is concerned Australia is ' 'miles ahead' ' of the Dominion. , That is the considered opinion of the president of the Auckland R.S.A., Mr. A. P. Postlewaite, who, as.leader of the New Zealand contingent to the Anzac celehrations in the Commonwealth, niade an intensive 17-day study of various prohlems of particular interest to exservicemen. Nothing impressed him as much as the Veterans' Home at Narrahean, an incorporate hody, administered hy a board, and entirely supported hy the public. Framed. hy towering gums and overlooking picturesque Narrahean Lake, the home comprises a nuxnher of excellently appointed buildings in which former servicemen are treated as honoured guests. Such is its populartfcy that -veterans have offered gsue.ous sums of money for the priviiege of bsing adniitted, but actually no one is required to contribute to his support. - No discrimination whatsoever is shown — colonels and privates are treated exactly the same. Most of the income is ohtained from the War Veterans' Art Union appeal — the last one realised £42,000 1 — and the capital amount expended on buildings and lmprovenients has totalled £75,000. Donations to the home are allowable deductions for income tax purposes. "Nothing is.too good for returned servicemen," is the policy at Narrahean, and this is borne out by the fact that the men are provided with luxurious acconunodation and splendid recreational facilities, such as billiards, bowling, and fishing on the lake. There is aiso a memorial garden set in the woodlands. MODERN HOSPITAjl-. Attached to the home is a 24-bed hospital, complete with the latest in medical appointments, and with central heating, bedside lighting, individual radio sets, and various other things, which — as Mr. Postlewaite says — go to make a stay in hospital a pleasure. ' ' The most magnificent and humanitarian project that could be found anywhere in the world," is the description he gives to Narrahean. Incidentally, the Auckland R.S.A. has submitted a similar scheme as that city's war memorial. Another advanced institution in which Mr. Postlewaite was specially interested was a "worry clinic," sponsored by the Australian Returned Services League. ■ Information showed that of every eight exservicemen one suffered from some forai of neurosis. In other wcrds, thousands of Australians required an organi.sation to which they could turn for help and advice. The clinic has been operating only a month and has already handled 600 cases. It is considered in Australia tfiat tfiis scheme has only touched the fringe of neurosis : j.ncidenpe., In., Mrv. , .Postlewaite 's opinion the establishment of a similar institution in New Zealand is long overdue. Sponsored also by the R.S.L. is a women 's clinic, providing for the welfare of wives and mothers of returned servicemen and conducting regular eXaminations of children. It ditt'ers ffom our social security schemes in that there is a more personal approach. For the reason that New Zealand's Heritage Movement embraces some of its ideals, the Legacy O'lub, 'whic.h costs £40,000 a year to run, was of particular interest to Mr. Postlewaite. Providing educational and social facilities every night, conducting health and beauty classes ("the deportment of the wards was an eyoopener"), teaching . elocution and dramatic art, and giving medical and dental treatment, the Legacy Cluo, he said, was one of the most practicil Christian things one could imagins. AU those features stood out to Australia 's credit, but in other respects Australia could learn a great deal from New Zealand. Everyone over there was most interested in New Zealand's social security legisiation — it was admitted that Australia had nothing to equal it. Gener- , ally, the Dominion 's rehahilitation schemes were superior to those across the Tasman, and so far as disabled ex-servicemen were concerned there was nothing to equal the Re-Estah-lishment League here. Unfortunately Mr. Postlewaite was unable to learn many points on the vital qiiestion of housing. Sydney's position appears worse than Auckland 's, and some people were living in "dreadful hovels" and in conditions that are seriously impairing their health, in 1946, there were 16,250 applicants for houses, but only a fraction of that number was built.