REHABILITATION WORK

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 256, 28 July 1942, Page 3

REHABILITATION WORK

Patriotic Moneys Not Used 2k denial that patriotic funds 'are used in connexion with the Government’s duty to look after the rehabilitation of ex-servicemen was made yesterday by the honorary secretary o£ the Wellington Provincial Patriotic Council, Mr. Ward,. M.L.C. “Some people still appear to think they are so used,” said Mr. Ward. "This, everyone agrees, is a Government affair, and the Government has made it quite clear that its responsibility is recognized.” A Rehabilitation Act had been passed which provided the necessary machinery, and the board set up under its provisions had not only the power to assist in the repatriation of any eligible person but also to assist the widow and children of a deceased serviceman or the wife of a totally incapacitated ex-serviceman. “It is quite reasonable to ask why, consequently, the 'Wellington Patriotic Council lias, in common with other provincial patriotic councils, set aside a special fund for the purpose, or as we call it ‘welfare,’” Mr. Ward s£l ij]; “ Be " fore the recent appeal £101,575 had been set aside for this special welfare work. “A sum of £330,000 was set aside 2.j years ago in the 'Wellington Province for the same work, and,the balance of this money is still being used exclusively for men and dependants of that war, under the administration of the Wellington 'War Relief Association and kindred bodies in the province. That shows how necessary it is to have ample funds in hand for the men of this war.” There were patriotic welfare committees in each of the 10 zones of the Wellington Province, Mr. Ward continued, and these' wore administering welfare assistance today to the extent of about £lOO a month. This rate of withdrawal from the special account would inevitably increase because, with the best intentions in the world, the State rehabilitation scheme could not be carried out without some cases of hardship aiid unavoidable delay, lb was to cope with such cases that the welfare fund had been established. “Patriotic funds,” Mr. 'Ward coneluded, “are not, and will not be used to relieve the State of its responsibilities.”