RETURNED FROM OVERSEAS

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23808, 30 November 1942, Page 6

RETURNED FROM OVERSEAS

RELEASE OF GRADE 3 SERVICEMEN WAR CABINET’S DECISIONS (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Nov. 29. An important decision by the War Cabinet relating to returned servicemen in grade 3 of the medical category is announced by the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser). He said provision had been made for these men either to remain in the forces or be discharged and receive at once the benefits of the Government’s rehabilitation provisions. Mr Fraser said the question raised by the Returned Services’ Association of the retention in the forces of servicemen who return from overseas or their discharge with full benefits of Eension or rehabilitation provisions ad already received the attention of the War Cabinet, on representations from Mr M. Moohan, chairman of the Rehabilitation Board. The result of consultations between the Army, the Rehabilitation Board, and the National Service Department, arranged by the Minister of Defence, was that recommendations were made to and approved by the War Cabinet which provided for an important alteration in the position of those members of the armed forces who had returned from overseas, and who, while being medically unfit, were not .-manently unfit for military service. Under the existing regulations only those men who were permanently unfit for any form of further military service could be discharged and other men were retained on full pay and allowances for a period and. when their pension and any other rights to which they were entitled had been adjusted, they were placed on leave without pay. Representations made to the Government by the Rehabilitation Board were to the effect that this procedure was not satisfactory in the case of grade 3 personnel from overseas, who were unlikely to improve in health so as to reach a higher medical grading, as their rehabilitation was likely to be prejudiced by their indefinite position. After careful consideration the War Cabinet had decided that men in grade 3 Of the medical category who were unlikely to reach higher grading and who preferred to stay in the Army performing duty suitable to their physical condition, should so remain and that other men in this class who so elected could be discharged. This enabled the latter to be fully restored to their civilian status and receive at once the benefits of the Government’s rehabilitation provisions. This decision would be brought into immediate operation. The question of whether, if suitable employment or other rehabilitation provision were not immediately available—a contingency which, he was informed, had not arisen to any extent owing to the urgent need for workers in industry generally—the assistance given returned men should be by means of ordinary social security unemployment payments or through rehabilitation unemployment payments could be considered by the Rehabilitation Board and the Government would consider sympathetically any recommendation of the board on the question. The main question and concern of the Government, the Rehabilitation Board, and the Returned Services’ Association, and. indeed, the whole of the people of New Zealand were agreed upon was to provide adequately, fairly, and, indeed, generously for men who had risked their lives for their country and for all of us. Mr Fraser added that the Government and the War Cabinet welcomed the suggestions for improvement in provisions for returned men from the New Zealand Returned Services’ Association, and were grateful for its helpful co-operation in the whole war effort.