REHABILITATION PROBLEMS

Press, Volume LXXX, Issue 24368, 21 September 1944, Page 3

REHABILITATION PROBLEMS

ASSISTANCE OF INDUSTRY SOUGHT Two rehabilitation problems which were causing concern in Christchurch at present, and for which the assistance of industry was sought, were mentioned yesterday by the district rehabilitation officer (Mr J. B. Pearson). He said that they were the provision of suitable work, chiefly of a light nature, for men suffering from some form of disability and unable to take their place ir the ordinary competitive labour market, and the employment of men who had been engaged before the war on the distributive side of industry as sales executives or travellers. Mr Pearson added that because of import restrictions or the change from domestic to war-time production, the firms with which, men had been engaged in the distribution of consumei goods did not have a selling organisation, and avenues of employment were restricted. The Rehabilitation Department did not regard it as true rehabilitation to put these men into work foreign to their previous employment, but in a large number of cases it was prepared to see the men go back into business, even if it was on the production side, so that they could keep in touch with current trade movements and be prepared te take advantage of openings in their own sphere. Mr Pearson said that there were a number of men in this category, and the problem of finding employment for partially-disabled men was also still acute. It was hoped that business firms in Christchurch would give first preference to men in these two categories if any openings occurred.