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The closest co-operation has existed between War Pensions Registrars and Rehabilitation Officers in the matter of Rehabilitation Allowances. In this respect Rehabilitation Officers have assisted the War Pensions Branch by assisting ex-servicemen to complete applications which have been lodged with the War Pensions Registrars. Financial Assistance. —Previous to the development of local Rehabilitation Committees, Rehabilitation Officers supplied information to interested ex-servicemen concerning the various forms of financial assistance which the State Advances Corporation, as agent to the Rehabilitation Board, was making available. Applicants were also assisted with the completion of their applications, and were referred to the District Officers of the State Advances Corporation where this was necessary. With the assumption of this aspect of work by the local Rehabilitation Committees, the local Rehabilitation Officer, as Secretary of the Committee, has continued to supply the desired information. Educational Facilities. —The Rehabilitation Service has dovetailed with the Education Department, particularly with the Vocational Guidance Officers attached to the Government Youth Centres and with the Honorary Advisers appointed by the Education Dejjartment, in operating an administrative procedure for the provision of educational facilities to ex-servicemen. Land-settlement and Farm Training.—The Service has co-operated with the Land-settlement and Farm Training Committee established'by the Board, by providing it with details of applicants for farm holdings under settlement schemes, and also with details of applicants for farm training, proposals concerning which have been closely linked with the settlement plans of the Rehabilitation Board. Occupational Re-establiahment and Apprenticeship Resumption, -The Service has advised ex-service-men in general terms concerning their rights under the Occupational Re-establishment and the Suspension of Apprenticeship Order Emergency Regulations. In cases of more than ordinary difficulty, the circumstances have been placed before the District Officers of the Labour Department, which has been charged with the administration of these regulations. In the exceedingly small number of cases where Court action has been involved, the Service has yielded the maximum possible assistance to the Labour Department. Treatment. —Co-operation has been given to the War Pensions Branch, the Health Department, and the Mental Hospitals Department, as well as such organizations as the Institute for the Blind and the League for the Hard of Hearing, in arranging needed treatment of ex-servicemen. Levy Books, Ration Coupons, and Equipment and other Supplies. —The Service has co-operated with the Land and Income Tax Department in the re-issue of Levy Books to returned personnel, and with the District Rationing Controllers in arranging the release of ordinary and special coupon issues to ex-servicemen. Rehabilitation of Maori Ex-servicemen.—ln their with Maori ex-servicemen Rehabilitation Officers have advantageously co-operated with the various Regional Native Recruiting Officers, who have assisted the Service materially in the difficult matter of contact with men residing in outlying areas. Central Register of Assistance Afforded.— The Service has, with the co-operation of other Departments and organizations, maintained a complete Central Register of Assistance Afforded each ex-serviceman or ex-servicewoman. Employment.—This, the initial responsibility of the Employment Division of the National Service Department, remains the main responsibility of the Rehabilitation Service. The steps taken by the Service in this field, in co-operation principally with the Labour Department, are dealt with in Section 9 of the report, as are all the results recorded to date under this heading. General.—The practice followed by the Service in watching the progress of all sick and wounded ex-servicemen and ex-servicewomen has enabled the recording of the stage of rehabilitation of all such men and women. Table 11 of the Appendix shows the manners and stages of re-establishment, as far as was known to the Service, of all men and women invalided out of the forces as at 31st March, 1943. (7) TREATMENT The Government has made provision for Service personnel to be retained on Service pay while still receiving treatment unless they arc deemed to be fit for employment or unless they seek their own discharge. For as long as personnel remain on Service pay their treatment is the responsibility of the Service arm concerned. After demobilization, any further treatment required is provided by the War Pensions Branch of the Social Security Department if the ex-serviceman is pensionable. Ex-servicemen not in this class but requiring treatment may, on reporting their case to the Social Security Department, be provided with treatment or admitted to hospital on the authority of that Department. Provision is made by the War Pensions Branch for the issue to ex-servicemen of mechanical appliances necessary for disabilities due to war service, including artificial limbs, stump sox, artificial eyes, and other surgioal appliances. To compensate in some measure for the wear and. tear on clothing caused by the wearing of artificial appliances, a clothing allowance may be paid to such disabled ex-servicemen. Authority has been given the War Pensions Board to pay an attendants allowance of up to .£3 weekly to those ex-servicemen in receipt of full disability pension, where the services of such an attendant are indispensable. If the patient is suffering from tuberculosis, a suitably constructed tent may be provided, and, as necessary, this may be repaired or replaced. As an alternative, there is provision for a grant of money to effect necessary structural alterations or additions to the patient's own residence and to provide him with furniture. At an early stage in the present war it was decided that provision for the treatment of service patients and ex-servicemen would be made by utilizing, with necessary extensions, the hospital facilities provided by Hospital Boards and the Department of Health. Financial assistance "was accordingly provided.

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