REHABILITATION PLAN

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 65, Issue 181, 15 May 1945, Page 4

REHABILITATION PLAN

VIEWS OF RETURNED MEN. (P.A.) DUNEDIN, This Day. The Minister of Rehabilitation (the Hen. C. F. Skinner) was recently reported to have taken organisations to task for suggesting that returning servicemen were not coming back to pick ahd shovel Avork and to have indicated that this is, to be the Government’s policy, even if it hurts a little. A report to the executive of the Returned Soldiers’ Association last evening stated: “We view such statement Avith alarm and consider that the Minister entirely misunderstands the feelings of returned servicemen in this matter. We claim to. be as practical as the Minister, but, avg firmly set our faces against schemes requiring labouring Avork only. That will last for years. “That is not rehabilitation, and only indicates that the Government is afraid of the future Avhen the bulk of the servicemen return, and intends to have big schemes available to absorb them in employment. Overseas service does not debar a man from doing such work as Mr Skinner tries to imply, and Ave are fully in accord with men linking up Avith reputable contractors or Government works of a national character, where they can obtain steady work of the nature they desire, but we consider that service merits a better outlook than that offered by t}ie Minister.”