RETURNED SOLDIERS Rehabilitation Plans

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 260, 1 August 1942, Page 10

RETURNED SOLDIERS Rehabilitation Plans

»An insight into the proposals nud schemes that are being developed for the change-over from Army to civilian work of 'New Zeiilund soldiers after the war »wus given bv Mr. J. S. Jieiil, a member of the Hohaililitation. Council which has been set up by the Government, with the assistance of representatives from industries, trade, and workers, in mi address given at the Y.M.C.A. Optimists Club luncheon this week. Already a considerable number oi men had returned front* oversells, he said, and proposals were in action ns far as fb'.-y were concerned. Upturning men would be mot in New Zealand by a speciallytrained staff, and all returning ships would have a staff’on Iward to carry out preliminary interviews. Tlie bousing ot a largo number of mon returning home would present outstanding difficulties. An anonymous donor had given £I(KM) to. be distributed in prizes for plans of housing methods, organization, and new ideas tn construction, furniture, and design, and this competition would be opened soon. The council was arranging, in eo-op-enition with the Housing Department of the Government, building trade, and the workers for t ho-extensive development ol plans and organization of sites, and such work would lie given high priority in the labour and material available after the essential things of the defence works were mot. H'i» enmmf-nted on the poor quahrj an<! high prior of furniture in New Zealand and said that architools had advised the council that there was a. great Mopo in New Zealand for improvement m design and reduction in cost. Many of the men returning would be anxious L. go oh the land, and tlie problem of loud prices was being giv.-n very close study, in view of the sad experience nt the end of the last war with mflation•iry prices of land.