WARM WELCOME

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 237, 7 October 1942, Page 4

WARM WELCOME

FOR EX-SERVICEMEN

FINANCIAL AID PROPOSALS

In order to give the homecoming of ex-servicemen some material warmth of national welcome and sympathetic consideration, the firstphase of New Zealand's broad system of rehabilitation has been established with unanimous approval. All other phases follow on similar lines of substantial assistance toward ade. quate reabsorption into civil life without vexatious delay, states a r* port presented to the Rehabilitate* Board in Wellington by the chair, man, Mr. M. Moohan.

Recognising that the rehabilitation of returned personnel of New Zealand's armed forces virtually begins at disembarkation, the RehabiUtation Council has worked out the plans of its first phase. Thus, after medical grading, the men are granted privilege leave for 28 days on full miutarv pay together with a free pass to travel on the State railways. Disabled men who have received their dS. charge while still hospital in-patients are immediately placed on a full die. ability pension of £2 a week, In addition, an economic pension computed on the basic rate of £lio/ weekly may be obtained, plus £1 tar wife and 10/ for each child. On d£. charge from hospital the full JST ability or war pension may he reduced or even cancelled as the recipient's health improves o* becomes restored, although, in manv cases, particularly amputees tS pension may continue for life.' Th» economic pension may also he reduced according to the economic position of the pension*? On passing in military equipmimt and clothing, each ex-servicemaali granted a mufti allowance of £12 i©/

Scope of Assistance

The scope of financial assistance ii wide and liberal. So far, the Gdr ernment forms of such aid inchSi various grants and loans. Interest free loans not exceeding £50 each case may be made for the niSl chase of tools of trade, equipment nr personal effects as are tial in the applicant's occupation distinction is made and overseas servicemen, except short-term Territorial service Loans not exceeding £100 *» granted free of interest to an at serviceman who is married or ab«it to marry, to a widower with one £ more children, and to a dependant • widowed mother of a deceased : viceman. In the case of a tntaU*. disabled man in necessitous circum-.* stances—or a widow with one phiM or more hi a similar position** grant up to £30 is made and <Jnb the balance of £70 is by way of the terms of repayment being fiSi at the discretion of the Departmdlt Loans not exceeding £500 (except ia special cases) are made for thefpurchase of stock-in-trade, plant and working capital for the establish. • ment of businesses. The rate of interest is 4s per cent per annum, except in the first year when ini-i reduced to 2 per cent. The lendiar department, however, mav raTtte : ■ rate .of 2 per cent for three veart" Advances up to £3000 as'a rale. * but £3500 in special cases, granted to competent ex-servicemen desiring to acquire selected fannaw to refinance their own holig to S be operated as individual farwW S ¥^ ts " These loans are made m'to'B 100 per cent of the DepartniMfflr S valuation on a production Tsi|«jL~' Advances are also made on®<« security of stock and farm clutfp-'i-up to 100 per cent of npnarnS'4 valuation. Although the maSgWF loan is fixed at £1250, the d 2-"" ment has authority to raise theTm Ci to £1500. Rates of interest on n5 ; ~ : * loans are:—farms, 4i per eentW*' only 2 per cent in the first vearH • 3 per cent for the second and thMr years; stock and chattels, 5 per <ml reduced to 21 per cent first jm, which rate may be continued at t& Departments discretion for timeyears. . Interest Rate Concessions A further concession has gianted by the Government. Rehabilitation Board, which is cobposed of members selected from tfe council, has been given discretionary authority to reduce the interest raws, on loans for homes and farms to*, per cent for a period of seven years in all. ■

A maximum loan of £1556 is granted to enable ex-servicemen to build or acquire houses. If'tfe": applicant satisfies the lending department that lie is able to meet CriMmitments on the property an adce , nia .y be made up to 100 per cent of the valuation. The rit/5 interest in both cases is 4i per dpt ' ®5 C to - per cent the first y&r, and possibly for seven years). ,i, £r an £ Gmen ts have been made hy tne Government to give returned servicemen a 25 per cent preference ffl tne allocation of State-owned rental nouses.