BIG STEP FORWARD

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 270, 13 November 1943, Page 6

BIG STEP FORWARD

REHABILITATION WORK

EX-SERVICEMEN OFFICERS

(0.C.) HAMILTON, this day. "That is just what we have been demanding for the past three years " said Mr. Arthur Fow, president of the Waikato Returned Services' Association, this morning when referring to the appointment of two full-time members of the Rehabilitation Board, the two members being ex-servicemen and therefore best qualified to deal with the needs of ex-servicemen.

"Now that a Rehabilitation Department has been set up," said Mr. Fow "we feel something useful and definite will be done. Both the Minister, Mr. Skinner, and the director, Mr. Baker, are soldiers of the present war. Messrs. Gaspar and Batten are soldiers of the last war. Furthermore, Mr. Gaspar has been for years on the executive of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, and Mr. Batten has been on the executive of the New Zealand Returned Services' Association since its inception in 1916.

"The merging of several different departments into one is an excellent step," added Mr. Fow, "and we are in full accord with the intention of officers meeting ex-servicemen. However, more than sympathy is needed. What is required is the best available brains to handle many different problems, and the Waikato R.S.A. is satisfied that a big step forward has been made with rehabilitation."