AFTER-CARE WEEK

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 287, 2 September 1942, Page 6

AFTER-CARE WEEK

Setting Aside Part Of

Patriotic Funds

■ Reasons for the setting aside of a proportion of the patriotic funds for after-care work among memoers of the New Zealand Fighting Forces when they are demobilized were given by the secretary of the National Patriotic Fund Board, Mr. G. A. Hayden, during an official visit to Invercargill recently. “We will want patriotic funds to help returned soldiers 30 or 40 years from now,” he said. Air. Hayden added that there was a big job ahead when the men came back. The economic pension, the war veterans’ allowance, and social security would make the position better than it was after the last war, but there were other factors that they did not have to consider then. There was the problem likely to be created by the calling up of youths of 18, most of whom would not have a trade or calling to go back to. The Government recognized this, but no matter how wisely a Government department acted there were limits to what it could do, and that was where the Patriotic Fund could step in and help. There were far more prisoners of war this time and they would need special care when they came back, just as might also many men who had served in the Air Force. “We know that it is the Government’s job to help the returned men,” said Mr. Hayden, “but the Patriotic Fund should be ready to help men the Government is not able to help.” Dr. A. Owen-Johnston, president of the Invercargill R.S.A., endorsed Mr. Hayden’s remarks. With all the allowances now provided by the Government there was still need for help from the Patriotic Fund, he said. Calls on the fund might be all the greater after this war because it was probable that twice as many men would be mobilized this time as were mobilized in the last war.