REHABILITATION

Wairarapa Times-Age, 3 July 1943, Page 2

REHABILITATION

MR SLATER’S ALLEGATIONS

COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN ASTOUNDED. INVESTIGATION TO BE MADE. “As chairman of the Masterton Rehabilitation Committee I am astounded at the statement of Mr Slater, which appeared in yesterday’s “Times-Age,” said Mr J. Robertson, M.P., this morning, referring to charges made by Mr Slater in regard to rehabilitation. “It presents an entirely incorrect picture of the position as regards the returned man,” said Mr Robertson. “Representatives of the R.S.A. and others closely in touch with the operations of the rehabilitation machinery are generally agreed that the system is very good indeed, but that occasionally an individual officer may make a mistake. Whenever such mistakes are notified, a remedy is at once applied. To magnify any such mistake as may occur, however, renders a distinct disservice to returned men. The co-op-eration of all in the work of rehabilitation is what is wanted. Mr Slater’s allegations will be closely investigated and a statement made showing the result.” “I think it is to be regretted,” said Mr Robertson, “that before Mr Slater’s statement was published it was not referred to either the president of the R.S.A., the Rehabilitation Officer or the Registrar of Social Security, Masterton, under whose eye all pension matters pass." MINIMUM DELAYS ACCORDING TO REGISTRAR. Mr J. L. L. Wood, Registrar of Social Security and War Pensions, Masterton, states that Mr Slater has not handled war pensions for the past eight months and previously was only engaged on that work for- two to three months. Consequently he is not in a position to speak authoritatively on the matter. As regards his allegations of a hold-up in pensions, any delays are reduced to an absolute minimum but pending finalisation of the claim, it is open to the applicant to apply for a rehabilitation allowance.