PLANS OUTLINED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 November 1942, Page 3

PLANS OUTLINED

FOR REHABILITATION OF SERVICE MEN ADDRESS BY BOARD CHAIRMAN. WORK, LOANS & EXPANSION OF INDUSTRY. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. Some details of the plans for the rehabilitation of servicemen were given in an address last night by Mr M. Moohan, chairman of the Rehabilitation Board. After mentioning the arrangements for loans to ex-servicemen for the purchase of tools of trade or furniture, for the establishment of a business or the acquisition of a farm or house, MrMoohan said that the board was of opinion that the hardest period for a man was when he acquired a home and found himself with the difficulties of raising a young family. What applied to the man in a home, applied equally to the man trying to establish himself successfully on a farm. It was to assist such cases and others which might arise that the board had obtained the right to make the interest rate 2 per cent, for seven years. “Plans for the reabsorption of at least 50,000 men are completed, and this covers only such work as houses, afforestation, , hydro-electric works railways construction, and public buildings,” Mr Moohan added. “In the near future local bodies will be asked to submit plans showing work required to be done in the area under their jurisdiction, and the domain boards particularly will be able to furnish very helpful employment for neurasthenic cases.

“Comprehensive plans submitted by the board for trade training, land settlement, and educational facilities to be available for returned men have been approved and adopted by the Government, and full details will be published shortly. “A survey of our industrial requirements is being undertaken, and very shortly we hope to be able to present a comprehensive scheme of furnishing up-to-date information regarding the ability of industry to absorb men in the production of goods and service. While it is highly desirable to make provision for the absorption of men in the creation of national assets, it will be economic suicide if we don’t try to get the maximum number of people working on the production of goods. The question of decentralisation is very important. Every encouragement should be given to the establishment of light industries-in the smaller centres, so that the population may be encouraged to disperse evenly over the whole Dominion.

“Our social services will be extended and improved as rapidly as possible. Houses and furniture must, however, remain the most urgent of all problems, as these are required in the first step in rehabilitation.' “The problems in rehabilitation are many and varied, but the Rehabilitation Board, with the authority given it by Parliament, and with the approval and support of and with the means, financial and otherwise, provided by the Government, intends to see that the debt owing to our soldiers, sailors and airmen is paid by ushering in for them and their dependants economic security, and the golden dividends of happiness and prosperity.”