STUDY NEEDED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 29 August 1940, Page 4

STUDY NEEDED

REHABILITATION PLANS TREATMENT OF SOLDIERS AFTER THE WAR. MR J. A. LEE’S PROPOSALS. ißy Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON. This Day. • The Soldiers’ Guarantee Bill, a private measure sponsored by Mr Lee (Democratic Labour, Grey Lynn) and described as "an Act to grant to soldiers serving abroad in the present war with Germany and to the dependants of such soldiers reasonable conditions of living on return to New Zealand or on the death of the soldiers, as the case may be.” was briefly discussed in the House of Representatives yesterday. The Prime Minister, Mr Fraser pointed out that the measure involved an appropriation and would, therefore, be ruled out of order by the Speaker. It was recognised, however, that it dealt with the future of the soldiers, and in those circumstances he thought the House'might permit a short discussion on it. He suggested that Mr Lee and one speaker each from the Government and Opposition sides should take part if they desired. Moving the second reading. Mr Lee expressed appreciation of the Prime Minister’s attitude toward discussion on the measure, and said it had been introduced so that some consideration could be given to the question of rehabilitation after the war.

REHABILITATION PLANS

“We have to study as never before." said Mr Lee. "how the consumption of the output of machines now producing for war is going to become the alternative consumption of society in peace, and how, in the period following the demobilisation of the Army, to keep productive society geared up to its maximum. If we do not think about these problems before the time arrives, not only may the soldier have greathardship inflicted on him, but society may, too.” Mr Lee said there was no better way to do this than to guarantee extra purchasing power to the soldiers when they were demobilised. For this reason the Bill sought to guarantee the soldier employment for not less than five years after his return to the Dominion at standard rates of pay or at not less than £5 a week.

The Bill also proposed that the basic soldier's pension should be subject to periodic and automatic review in consonance with any increase in the cost of living and improvements in general living standards. The 5 per cent wages increase, the 5 per cent increase in purchasing power and the rising standard of prices tended to leave the soldier pensioner in a worse position. If the worker in industry was to have periodic increases, that should apply just the same to the soldier.

TENTATIVE ACTION

TAKEN BY GOVERNMENT.

(By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) WELLINGTON, This Day.

An outline of measures which had been taken by the Government to plan for the rehabilitation of soldiers on the termination of the war was given by the Prime Minister. Mr Fraser, when he spoke in the discussion on the Soldiers’ Guarantee Bill. The subject was important, he said, and would receive the increasing attention of the House.

The war had hardly broken out before members considered it was due to the soldiers who were volunteering to make the fullest provision for them after the termination of their services. Mr Fraser said. There was general agreement not only in the House, but also in the country on the importance of that.

"Already the Government has had a report on the question of rehabilitation,'’ Mr Fraser said. “This was a review of what was done in this and other countries after the last war. That is only the starting point. A committee of Cabinet was set up some time ago to go into the question and outline the problems that had to be considered.

“To the limit of the resources of the country our responsibility is to make adequate provision for the men and their families. That is an axiom with us all. What we can do will depend on the production of the country at the time.” Opposition members: “Hear, hear.” Mr Fraser: “I am expressing something that everybody also agrees with. The more that is produced, it is axiomatic the better the provision, that can be made. There is no section of the community that has a greater claim on the country as a whole than the soldiers.”

The Prime Minister added that all members were alive to their responsibilities. The question was how the job could be done efficiently and adequately so that the men who had gone away would feel that their value had been recognised. Ample opportunity would be given the House for a full discussion on the question later.

OBLIGATION ON ALL MR HAMILTON'S VIEWS. WELLINGTON. This Day. “The subject of rehabilitation is one that we are all definitely and symoa-' thetically interested in,” said the Leader of the Opposition. Mr Hamilton, during the debate on the Soldiers' Guarantee Bill. It was up to everyone, he added, to see that the best was done for the soldiers on their return. Mr Hamilton said that all would agree that the question of the rehabilitation Of soldiers was worth, studying. The experience of rehabilitation after the last war suggested that there was perhaps scope for improvement on the methods adopted on that occasion. “There is no doubt that, a war creates a great disturbance so far as the ordinary vocations of the people are concerned," said Mr Hamilton. "The Government has practically passed legislation saying that a soldier is entitled on his return from the war to the same position he occupied before he went away. I think that will be very difficult in practice." Mr Hamilton said that though the subject matter of the Bill was well worth discussion, he doubted if Mr Lee's proposal was a solution to the problem. He did not think it was. One of Mr Lee's experience and ability should be able to formulate a practicable scheme.

Mr Lee: "I believe in the principle in this Bill, and will put it into operation if I have the opportunity.” Mr Hamilton: “I thought the member for Grey Lynn could formulate a better Bill than the measure he has introduced.” Mr Lee: "It is not a bad start."