REHABILITATION

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 June 1943, Page 3

REHABILITATION

BOARD’S WORK REVIEWED DIFFICULTIES TO OVERCOME. CO-OPERATION ESSENTIAL. A comprehensive talk on the difficulties which the Rehabilitation Board was meeting was given by a member, Mr C. W. Batten at last night’s annual meeting of the Wairarapa Returned Services’ Association. He said that if there were any criticism of the board’s work, it would be glad to consider it and correct any mistakes, as the work was too important for personal dignity.

Mr Batten said individual and collective help would ensure success in rehabilitation. It was easy to make glowing statements and plans and to say that loans and benefits would be available but unless there was an organisation covering the whole of the country and the people were so interested that they would give their help the organisation would not work. In lyiasterton the local committee was hampered by a lack of a definite, written policy to guide it. Referring to the Rehabilitation Board, he said there would be mistakes, failures and disappointments. They could not be avoided but the board would try and try again where there were failures. Without. .too. the confidence of the men themselves, the great task could not be done. The board was doing its best and with the Government and the Rehabilitation Council, it meant what it said. Under the act all were eligible for rehabilitation who had worn the King’s uniform whether .they were on full time service overseas or at home. Of the 160,000 eligible for rehabilitation. 14,000 from home and 7,000 from overseas service had already been dealt with. Wounded and disabled men and the widows of men who were killed overseas were given all they could be as soon as possible. The men with short service in New Zealand would wait their turn.

The board was watching the interests of returned men so far as values of homes, etc., were concerned, said Mr Batten. Despite an adverse market over 200 homes had been provided. The Government was allocating 50 per cent of State houses to returned men. Mr Batten urged returned men to lake State houses until they could settle down. Furniure values were terrible and it was pitiable what £lOO bought. He advised the younger men to hasten slowly and to discuss their plans with the local committees. There vzas no substitution for work and all that could be given by the most benevolent of Governments or parents vzas only a start. Mr Batten referred to the work of the Disabled Servicemen’s League and the Government training centre and said the Government had never failed when a reasonable request was made to it for the benefit of service men.

In reply to Miss Higginson, Mr Batten said all service women were eligible for rehabilitation benefits. Answering a question from Mr S. V. Playsted, Mr Batten said where possible men would be given the chance to follow the vocation they desired. If the men failed they would be given another chance until they were happy and settled in their employment.