HELPING FORMER SERVICEMEN

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22411, 26 May 1938, Page 17

HELPING FORMER SERVICEMEN

REHABILITATION SCHEME DESIRED

RETURNED SOLDIERS* DECISION AT ANNUAL MEETING

Strongly dissatisfied with the existing methods of finding employment for returned soldiers and relieving distress among them, the annual meeting of the Christchurch branch of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association decided last evening to urge the Dominion- conference., of the association to ask the Government for a comprehensive scheme of rehabilitation. Evidence of the need for such a scheme was seen in figures given- in the annual report, which stated that 711 men had registered as unemployed, of whom 120 were new registrations.

Mr A. H. Campbell said these figures showed that the country was unable to find work for the men who, had fought for it. Twenty years after the end of the Great War there were still 711 men, in one branch of the association alone, who were compelled - to go “cap in hand” to the benevolent committee of the branch. He moved that the Dominion conference be, asked to set up a sub-committee to investigate the incidence of unemployment among returned soldiers; and that the conference be recommended to ask the Qovernmnet for a scheme of economic rehabilitation.

War pensions should be made adequate for all the needs of men whose war service had made them unable to work, said Mr A. E. Haynes. Returned soldiers should not be dependent on sustenance dr other relief. They should be a class apart. There should be , full provision for those unable to work, and work for those who could do it. Mr Haynes added that a few men who had obtained work during the municipal elections at the polling booths had lost a sustenance” payment on that account.

A great deal had been achieved for the less fortunate members of the association, said the president (Mr A. W. Mewton), but the association should continue to press their claims. The motion was carried unanimously.