RE-ESTABLISHING RETURNED MEN

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21081, 5 February 1934, Page 4

RE-ESTABLISHING RETURNED MEN

FIRST MEETING OF LEAGUE ADMINISTRATIVE BODY LTHE TBEBS Special Seryic*.] WELLINGTON, February 3. This week in Wellington the first meeting of the Dominion headquarters of the Soldiers' Civil Re-establishment League (Incorporated) was held. It was perhaps the most important meeting concerning disabled returned soldiers for some years, for it was the first movement of the "head" which should have been provided for in the legislation of 1930 dealing with the problem, the Disabled Soldiers Civil Re-estab-lishment Act.

This legislation provided branches representatives of bodies which could materially assist the re-establishment in suitable civilian employment of those returned soldiers who, by reason of mental or physical incapacity, are unable to obtain or retain suitable work, but it lacked the essentials which had been recommended to the Government by the Soldiers' Rehabilitation Commission, 1930.; it lacked, for instance, the power to create and control schemes of employment. Lack of funds, economic troubles, an general conditions prevented the full operation of the Disabled Soldiers Civil Re-establishment Act, with its limited scope, and the continuation of such circumstances has made it most difficult to brine; about a state which would enable the full objects outlined in the report of the commission to be explored. However, the New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association, working in conjunction with the Government and with a common object in view, suggested a scheme whereby, with an entire absence of duplication or overlapping, the full recommendations of the Rehabilitation Commission could be gone into. Personnel. The Soliders' Civil Re-establishment League, an incorporated society, consisting of branches (identical in personnel with the local advisory committees under the Disabled Soldiers Civil Re-establishment Act), but with an administrative body known as Dominion headquarters, has commenced activities. The Dominion headquarters personnel is as follows:—Chaiman. Colonel N. S. Falla; vice-chairman, Mr H. B. Burdekin (nominee of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association): Messrs H. Digby Smith (nominee of New Zealand Government), A. E. Mander (New Zealand Manufacturers' Federation), C. M. Luke (National War Funds Council), C. G. Camp (New Zealand Employers' Federation), and J. Tucker (New ZealaKd Trades and Labour Council). In addition to this personnel, the New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association, after a considerable amount of negotiation, was fortunate in obtaining the services "on loan" of Mr J. S. Barton, C.M.G., S.M.. as Government Commissioner to co-ordinate the activities which have been set up before the actual launching of the league, and generally to assist the problem. Mr Barton's knowledge of the subject is based on the Soldiers' Rehabilitation Commission, of which he was chairman, and during which he was so profoundly interested in | the possibilities of doing something to I better the lot of the disabled soldiers. With his experience in many directions, Mr Barton is bringing the most helpful aid to a problem that grows more difficult each day.

Independent Work

The Soldiers' Civil Re-establishment League, as will be seen from the personnel, is entirely removed from Government control, and is not an adjunct of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association, although the Government and the association are very interested in the organisation and its success, and will continue to co-operate and assist in every possible way. The schemes already m operation cover fibre and leather working, bag and suitcase factory, homecraft factories, basketware, brassware, and Angora rabbit and poultry farming, and there are other schemes which will be considered in due course. Some 300 disabled soldiers are engaged in this occupational employment, and the total number of pensioners alone who may be assisted under the scheme is in the vicinity of 2500. In addition, there are the men who are unable to take their places in the usual avenues of employment, and who are not in receipt of war pensions. From this it will be realised that the work involved is worthy, and that its success will mean not only occupation and happiness to the workers, but reduction in the outgoings for pensions and benevolent assistance with consequent benefit to New' Zealand as a whole.