A NEW SCHEME

Hokitika Guardian, 8 December 1932, Page 3

A NEW SCHEME

EMPLOYMENT FOR RETURNED MEN CONFERENCE TO BE HELD CHRISTCHURCH Dee. C. Particulars of a scheme to further

the work of finding employment .or disab.ed soldiers were given to a meeting yesterday of the Christchurch Disabled Soldiers’ Civil Re-establishment Committee by General Sir Andrew Russell, Dominion president of the Returned Soldiers’ Association.

1 “We know the great interest you are 1 taking in this work, as president of the Returned Soldiers’ Association,” said I the chairman (Mr E.E. Willcox) in welcoming Sir Andrew. “We are doing our best to find work far disabled men ourselves, hut are greatly handienped in regard to finance. Even so. however, the results we have obtained have been gratifying.”

! Explaining that ho had not come with 1 a prepared statement to address the meeting, in consequence of vfhich his remarks might not he absolutely accurate. Sir Andrew Russell said that he sympathised with the committee in its lack of finance, which lie honed would 1 soon he overcome. He reminded the 1 committee, however, that when the Act under which the committee came into existence was passed no power was given the Minister in charge to raise the funds necessary to enable the work of re-establishment to he carried on. At a recent meeting of the Dominion Executive of the Returned Soldiers' Asocintion, he said, the matter of rehabilitation wits carefully discussed, and reference was made to the sum of about £7OOO which had been raised by means of an art union. It was felt that no good .purpose could he served by waiting for the Government to act, and if anything was to he done in the direction of assisting disabled men it would he better for the Association to do it.

I A conference was shortly to ho hold in Wellington to consider a scheme drawn no by Mr S. ,1. Harrison (soerelarv (if the New Zealand Reiurncd Soldiers’ Association), ul which 11n* dstrict vocational officers set up undei the Act wee. fo attend, together with representatives of bodies, which might contribute to Iho fund, simh as the Canteen Fund and tlm War Funds Council. Mr W. A. Barton, S.M., would also he attendance.

! ft \yas proposed to. set up hendquarj ters in Wellington, to deal with appli-

cations for assistance, a Board of three business men being established in each centre to consider, and, if approved, send on “to 'Wellington, any scheme put forward by local committee such as the o ne he was addressing, or other bodies operating to assist disabled men. v It would be the duty of headquarters to find the necessary money for the schemes put before them if they thought them worthy.