AID FOR DISABLED SOLDIERS

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXXVI, Issue 14710, 30 June 1948, Page 3

AID FOR DISABLED SOLDIERS

£IBO,OOO EXPENDED TO DATE ARRANGEMENTS FOR ANNUAL GRANT (P.A.) Wellington, June 29. The sum of £IBO,OOO had already been expended by the Government in the rehabilitation of disabled exservicemen, said the Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, today. He was speaking at the annual meeting of the council of Disabled Servicemen’s Reestablishment League.

The president of ,the league, Mr J, I. Goldsmith, said the organisation was the agent for the Government in the training of disabled exservicemen who had a disability of 40 per cent or over A total of 332 disabled men had completed their training and had been placed in private industry, and 224 were now being trained in new trades.

Interest-free loans to the extent of £61,000 had been received, and he felt the time had arrived when this method of financing the league should cease. A new arrangement should be made with the Government for an annual grant to cover all items. The league was awaiting a statement regarding the Government’s policy on the training of disabled civilians. If the league’s work was to be extended in this direction, proper training facilities should be provided in all centres.

Mr F. C. Allerby said that 265 exservicemen and 102 civilians had been supplied with artificial limbs during the year. The trading account showed a profit, of £3400.