DISCHARGED SOLDIERS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 January 1943, Page 4

DISCHARGED SOLDIERS

REHABILITATION SCHEME MANY DIFFICULTIES. SCOPE OF STATE ASSISTANCE. The rahabilitation of discharged service men, so far as State assistance is concerned, is neither broad enough noi rapid enough to give satisfaction, states the writer of a special article published in the “New Zealand Herald.” The vocational training scheme is not yet in its stride, and severe handicaps exist in respect of financial assistance. Settlement on land has been negligible. The proportion who want farms is small, and they are mainly men who before they enlisted followed land occupations—a striking contrast with the back-to-the-land bias of men who returned from the last war. But few of those who now desire to take up land have been successful. Apparently the Crown leasehold land available and suitable for this purpose is limited, and purchases of freehold on behalf of returned soldiers are nearly always ruled out by the basis of valuation employed by the State Advances Department. SMALL BUSINESSES. Numbers of disabled or unfit men have hoped to be assisted into small businesses, but, as one authority explained, the fatal difficulty in most cases is that nothing is allowed as working capital. “What is required,” he said, “is men with banking experience in the lending department and the adoption of ordinary business practice under which the man as well as the business is judged so that approved men may be advanced some working capital. “However, opportunity in this field is drying up. The small dairy business with its usual lines is up against stock problems which are insoluble under present conditions governing the supply of such goods as confectionery, soft drinks and cigarettes.” HOME-FINDING DIFFICULTIES. Another returned soldier with knowledge of land agency work discussed the difficulties facing men who want advances for the purchase of homes. Here again State valuations are one of the stumbling blocks. “In Auckland,” he says, “it is most difficult to purchase a house at the value fixed by the State Advances Department. This value to a large extent is based on building costs some time ago. Most houses, built in recent years have accrued in value rather than depreciated. A returned man may contract to buy a home for £l5OO bn condition that he obtains a loan for this amount, but the sum granted may be only £l2OO, leaving £3OO to be found by the soldier. “In addition he has to pay £2 per hundred for sinking fund, plus stamp duty. On top of this there are legal expenses, possibly some outlay for repairs, and, maybe, the department will impose a condition for painting or treatment for borer. In very rare cases is a 100 per cent loan granted. “Except for the first year, when the rate of interest is 2 per cent, the rate is 4| per cent, which is just about equal to what any civilian can get. The only benefit the soldier gets is that he . obtains a higher loan and a lower rate of interest for one year. NARROW INTERPRETATION. “The term ‘home’ seems to be interpreted in a narrow way. It is unlikely that a soldier will be granted a loan on a home which has a shop attached or a few acres of land which would assist him to make a living. “His chances of getting a house bargain are almost nil. Anyone selling a home cheaply can obtain cash immediately in the ordinary market. The soldier must obtain an option for at least a month. It is strongly advocated that instead of all purchase decisions being made in Wellington, the department should have in each centre a valuer with authority to say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ on the spot. Further, old houses which often’contain good timber should not be barred. Some of the old houses are roomy‘ , and comfortable, and often will suit a soldier who may have to make a home for an aged parent. “Porbably 10 per cent of the returned men have secured State houses. For these soldiers have a 25 per cent priority, but that is based on the number of ’all soldiers whether they have served (overseas or not.” It was added that soldiers had no priority in applications for telephones which were essential for t nose going into business. In contrast ff\'e case was cited of a single man who ha’rd been exempted from military servi<pe because he was in an essential indu; ’ try who not only had a private telephcuie but also a petrol licence to enable' him to motor to work in the early monxing. EMPLOYMENT QUESTION. Another returned man of this war who hai’ been watching rehabilitation largely I'rom the point of view of eraployme*nt, said that some of those who had jobs I o return to, found that under the wages stabilisation scheme thdir advancement had been prejudiced through an unfit civilian having “dug in” ahead of them. Generally speaking, those who had not left permanent positions were compelled through the inadequacy of a full pension plus the economic pension to take up employment too soon. The maximum for a single man was £3 14s 6d a week, which was not a living wage in these days, particularly if he had to board. Often he had to take hospital treatment and employment for him was limited to light work. This accounted for mat ly working in hotel bars. Grade 3 men who were placed on leave v/ithout pay had been promised settlement of their cases, but it was stated that practically no progress had been ms ide in this direction so far, and the men were still under a huge handicap, seeing that they did not have the rights of a soldier nor the advantages of a civilian, free from military obligation,