REHABILITATION OF SOLDIERS

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23802, 23 November 1942, Page 4

REHABILITATION OF SOLDIERS

' « ADDRESS BY CHAIRMAN OF BOARD “A million men of the British Empire gave their lives between 1914 and 1918 for democracy, liberty, and a new world order; more than 16,000 New Zealanders made the supreme sacrifice during those years,” said Mr M. Moohan, chairman of the Rehabilitation Board, in a broadcast address last evening. “Those men, along with their comrades fortunate enough to return, were full of hope. They imagined that the sacrifices made would issue in an order of society where poverty and want would be banished from the earth. Many years elapsed, and the lot of the returned soldier and his dependants was anything but satisfactory, Poverty and want were rampant, though wealth was being produced at a greater rate than ever. The world was full of war and rumours of war.” He thought it safe to say, added Mr Moohan, that the reason for this was that the average man did not give time and thought to the elimination of the evils which had brought about this state of affairs. He did not think that anyone wished to see the promises to our fighting men broken or sidestepped. On the recommendation of the Rehabilitation Board the Government had made provision for interest-free loans not exceeding £SO for the purchase of tools of trade, and not exceeding £ 100 for purchase of furniture, to former servicemen. A £SOO loan for the establishment of a business, and advances up to £3OOO were being granted to competent former servicemen desiring to acquire selected farms. Up to £1250 could be obtained for the purchase of stock, and up to £ISOO for building or buying a house. The rates of interest for the early period of the loan were very low. In the case of a loan for the purchase of a home or a farm, there was discretionary authority to reduce the interest rates to 2 per cent, for a period of seven years in all. A survey of industrial requirements was being undertaken, and it was hoped to be able to present a comprehensive scheme of furnishing up-to-date information on the ability of ins dustry to absorb men in the production of goods and services. Mr Moohan said that social services would be extended and improved as rapidly as possible, and every endeavour made to establish economic security for all.