REHABILITATION OF SOLDIERS

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22464, 27 July 1938, Page 3

REHABILITATION OF SOLDIERS

DIFFICULTY OF FINDING WORK FOR DISABLED PROMISE OF GOVERNMENT SUPPORT (PBESS ASSOCIATION TELEGBAit.) WELLINGTON, July 26. The difficulties that still confront the authorities in finding suitable employment for disabled returned soldiers were stated at the annual meeting of the Soldiers’ Civil Re-estab-lishment League. The meeting was opened by the Minister for Defence (the Hon. F. Jones), who complimented the - league on its work. In such work, he said, the man and not the money should be the first consideration. In helping disabled returned soldiers to take up sgme work or hobby, the league was doing a valuable work. He thought, however, that vocational training, reference to which w'as made in the league’s representations to the Government, was a big job and should not be entrusted to the league. He appreciated the difficulties of re-establishing disabled returned soldiers. About 2000 returned soldiers were employed by the Post and Telegraph Department, and in addition the department had its own problems in finding light work for the disabled members of its staff. The league W'ould find that the Government W'ould do its best to help it. Resolutions were carried asking the Minister for Education to reinstate the

privilege previously enjoyed by disabled soldiers of receiving free vocational training at technical schools, urging the extension of the scheme under which a number of disabled soldiers could be engaged as part-time postmen, and suggesting that in all cases where economic pensioners were taught home handicrafts, the Pensions Department make no deduction from the economic and dependant’s pension for a reasonable period. The following resolution was also carried; “That the meeting places on record its appreciation of the efforts of the Government to provide fulltime employment at standard rates of pay for fit former servicemen, and that headquarters be requested to take every opportunity of pressing the claim of the disabled soldier w'ho is unable to support himself owing to war disability for suitable employment witii private employers, and that such claims should also be not overlooked in the Government's employment programme.”