CONFERENCE URGED

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 64, Issue 30, 15 November 1943, Page 4

CONFERENCE URGED

REHABILITATION PROBLEMS. POSITION IN ASHBURTON AREA. VIEWS OF LOCAL COMMITTEE. “The question of rehabilitation is of great public concern and demands the help of every member of the community Avho can possibly assist,” said the chairman of the Ashburton Rehabilitation Committee (Mr S. P. Taylor) in an interview this afternoon. “The Ashburton committee is Avorking very harmoniously and is capable of rendering a very real service to our returned servicemen and Avomen. All its personnel are keen to see the returned personnel get a fair chance to make good.’' The committee was beginning to realise, however, Mr Taylor said, the magnitude of some of the problems with Avhich successful rehabilitation was beset. Experience gained in dealing with varied individual cases made the committee of the ojpinion that a conference should be held between representatives of committees in-Can-terbury "and the Minister of Rehabilitation (the Hon. C. F. Skinner). At this conference the following problems should be discussed: (a) The rate of interest chargeable to returned service personnel over a term of, say 7 years; (b) the length of the repayment term on loans; (c) transfer costs; (d) obviation of the delay in giving effect to committees’ decisions. Back to the Land. The farming lands of New Zealand were capable of carrying a vastly greater population than they Avere supporting at present. With increased primary production one of the paramount requirements of the world, the present was surely opportune to divert the flow of manpoAver, which for years had been moving to the cities, back to the land.

! Dealing with housing, Mr Taylor said that in view of the services they had given when overseas, returned men should have the right to build their OAvn homes at a rate of interest that would enable them make their homes their oavii. It Avas important also that all schemes in connection with rehabilitation he Avorking smoothly ready to help the men before they began to return in large numbers. “All the points I have mentioned/’ said Mr Taylor, “could lie effectively dealt Avith at the conference which the Ashburton committee favours.”

as every cmzen ol me jjujuiuiuji was concerned with rehabilitation, it* Avas essential that they should help. It was felt that primary production committees could render a great service by submitting lists of suitable farmers who Avere prepared to take returned servicemen and train them to tali© up favnfing. Industrial and commercial organisations could render a similar service. Those who offered assistance could then be called on when the* committee was dealing with men who wished to take- up something For which they Avere not fully trained.

Women in Essential Industry,

Another big problem which faced rehabilitation committees was that of [ dealing Avitli thousands of young woj men —not only those Avho had served in the forces at home and abroad, but [also those drafted into essential in- ? dustry. ! “The Ashburton Rehabilitation Committee,” said Mr Taylor, “feels that its first duty is the successful re-establishment of returned servicemen and Avomen. To accomplish this it must give equal consideration to the aspect of any situation as vleAved by a serviceman, vendor or mortgagee. To do this it must have fuller information in connection with individual cases than it is receiving, if a repetition of past history is to he avoided. For example, more information must be forthcoming in connection Avith valuations.”

la conclusion, Mr Taylor said that the committee, faced as it was by the various problems he had outlined, Avas doing a great job, was capable of doing even better given the opportunity, and deserved the utmost possible co-operatipn from the community. If this Avero forthcoming it Avould be to the benefit of the country, the servicemen and the community generally.