TO ASSIST EX-SOLDIERS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 823, 18 November 1929, Page 11

TO ASSIST EX-SOLDIERS

LOCAL ORGANISATION TO BE SET UP COMMISSION S PROMISE Before very long a responsible body will be set up in Auckland to inquire into possible industries for returned soldiers, particularly those incapacitated men who are now unable to follow their prewar occupations. This pronouncement was made by Mr. J. S. Barton, S.M.. chairman of the Returned Soldiers' Rehabilitation Commission, this morning. r PILE suggestion that disabled soldier^ should enter the rabbit industry • was put forward at this morning's j sitting of the Commission by Mr. A. G. Sainsbury.* Air. Sainsbury, who until recently was editor of the “New Zealand Smallholder,” said he was a farmer of 20 years’ experience. He was now actively engaged in the rabbit industry and was convenor of a special expert committee appointed last year by the Government to submit a farmlet scheme for incapacitated people. He was of the opinion that soldiers should take up the farming of both the Angora and Chinchilla rabbit, because they were quick, easy and inexpensive j to start, inexpensive to maintain and ■ very productive. Tr was also suitable j as a part-time or full-time occupation, j or for a branch of mixed farming. Two spheres of the rabbit industry ! that might be considered were the j spinning and manufacture of the pro- , ducts and the growing of wool pelts i and carcases. The manufacture of fur garments i was another branch of the industry ’ that might he taken up, he said. Air. Sainsbury said he had read the 1 evidence given hv Mr. N. Campbell, j Commissioner of Crown Lands for the | North Auckland district, and noted his j remarks in connection with the fail- I ures of soldier farmers. He was of . opinion that on all soldier settlements a responsible officer should be stationed, and he should be held morally responsible for the success or j failure of the block. He thought it unwise to place inexperienced men on the land and then leave them to their own devices. They must be j helped along and their financial success guaranteed day by day. In reply to the chairman. Mr. Sainsbury said in regard to the Angora rabbit there was not at present a good market, although one was now in process of being built up. There was a good market for Chinchilla pelts and carcases. WORK AMONG THE BLIND Appreciation of what had been done for the institute by the Government was expressed by Mr. A. J. Hutchinson. chairman of the board of trustees of the Jubilee Institute of the Blind. In reply to the chairman. Mr. Hutchinson said the Government had been very generous, and he did not think it could do a great deal more to help. He said some of the lines did not pay, but others did. In the basketmaking there was considerable opposition. He suggested that the local organisation to be set up should consider the possibilities of the Christmas cracker trade. This was a class of paper work that they would take up !at the institute if mgre labour was available. He thought it would be a suitable industry for incapacitated soldiers. The chairman said that the commission was very impressed with what liad been seen at the Blind Institute, and it could promise that nothing would be done by the local organisation to be set up that would come into conflict with the work being done at I the institute. The work being done there is one of the most encouraging things we have seen yet, said Mr. Barton. Mr. Hutchinson also referred to the j great assistance being given to the institute by the Rotary Club throughout. New Zealand. The chairman said that the comI mission was also enlisting the good j offices of the club to help in the | rehabilitation of the ex-soldiers. | Sir George Richardson, who was • recalled this morning, agreed with the chairman that the Corps of Commissionaires would only deal with a portion of the men. In regard to the setting up of the local organisation to deal with returned men generally, he thought it advisable that this should have a civic character rather than be under Government control, although certainly Government officers concerned should be represented. As a civic body he considered a greater measure of public support and gcodI will would be forthcoming, and it was | upon this spirit of goodwill that the success of the work would largely depend.