H.—lB

(iv) Selective Placement in Industry L 29. The Board has regarded the selective placement in industry of partially-disabled, and semifit men as following logically on such special provisions as institutional treatment and training-either on Intermediate Schemes or in the vocational centres managed by the Disabled Servicemen's Re-establishment League. 130. Consideration has been given to the possibility of reserving particular occupations for partially-disabled men, as has been done in the United Kingdom, and the procedure connected with the King's Roll in the United Kingdom, has also been investigated to determine the advisability or otherwise of its application to New Zealand. For varying reasons the idea of a King's Roll in New Zealand is not regarded as offering the same promise of success as apparently attends it in Britain. Instead the Board has determined on the compilation of a comprehensive industrial and occupational New Zealand monograph assembled with particular regard to those aspects bearing on the employment of the partially-disabled or semi-fit. With the detailed information that this monograph will yield the Board will be in a position to initiate a campaign for the selective placement of partially disabled men. 131. It is hoped that with the co-operation of employers and organizations of both employers and workers it will be possible to re-arrange substantially the labour content of industry in such a way as to give preference to the semi-fit and partially-disabled as far as particularly suitable vocations for" such men are concerned. By this means it should be possible to rehabilitate most of New Zealand's disabled ex-servicemen without prejudicing the chances of employment of fit civilians and without important diminution of output as far as the disabled men themselves are concerned. It is recognized that the Dominion's economy, because of its relative simplicity and lack of suitable secondary industries, will not offer the same scope for placement of semi-disabled men as would the more specialized economies of Great Britain and the United States, but, nevertheless, it is thought that much can be done in this direction even as far as New Zealand is concerned. Much importance is attached to the degree of co-operation volunteered by employers in carrying out this scheme, and it is considered that with such co-operation forthcoming the idea of a King's Roll may not need to be further urged. SECTION X.—EDUCATION (i) Administration 132. When the Department was established towards the close of 1943 an Education Section was set up in the Head Office, and the officer in charge thereof assumed the position of Secretary of the Board's Education Sub-committee. 133. The Rehabilitation Education Committee has been augmented during the last twelve months and now has seven members, including two representatives of the Board —viz., the Chairman and the Director of Rehabilitation —the Director of Education, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of New Zealand, the Director of the Army Education and Rehabilitation Service, the Director of the Air Force Educational Service, and a representative from the staff training section of the Public Service Commissioner's office.. 134. It has not been found necessary to make significant additions or modifications to the extensive educational facilities discussed in the Board's last report, but there has during the year under review been a marked increase in the number of applications for assistance. To ensure the efficient and understanding consideration of these applications a comprehensive administrative procedure involving the co-operation in all cases of district Vocational Guidance Officers or Honorary Education Advisers has been instituted. (ii) Applications received and Courses approved 135. To date 588 applications for educational assistance of one or another kind have been received. Of this number, 577 have been received during the last twelve months, betokening the considerable development already commented upon so far as this aspect of rehabilitation is concerned. Of the total applications received, 397 were successful, while of the balance of 180 a number of applicants though not granted all of the assistance applied for, were afforded modified assistance. The remainder were either unsuccessful altogether or withdrew their applications. 136. Table XIV of Appendix II gives details of facilities granted to ex-servicemen to date under the education procedure, while Table XV shows the distribution of students as between different courses in respect of which applications have so far been approved. (iii) Overseas Bursaries 137. Bursaries payable at £250 per annum sterling, plus tuition fees and expenses incurred in the purchase of books and material, have been awarded to five ex-servicemen for periods ranging from six months to three years. Bursaries of this kind are as a rule reserved for ex-servicemen who are sufficiently advanced in the line of study involved to pursue a course which would ordinarily be unavailable in New Zealand. Every ex-serviceman granted an overseas bursary is required to enter into a bond with the Board in terms of which he is obliged to pursue his profession or calling in. New Zealand for a stipulated period the duration of which is varied according to the extent of assistance granted. Consideration is at present being given to the question of how applications for overseas bursaries from members of the Forces who may still be overseas at the cessation of hostilities can best be handled. (iv) Prisoners of War 138. Study facilities for prisoners of war have been steadily improving, and arrangements have been made through the High Commissioner in London and the International Red Cross Society for the provision of text-books and other study material to New Zealand prisoners, r

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