REHABILITATION AT OAMARU

Press, Volume LXXX, Issue 24369, 22 September 1944, Page 8

REHABILITATION AT OAMARU

CRITICISM BY RETURNED - MEN

(P.A.) OAMARU, September 21. The immediate decentralisation of rehabilitation was advocated at a meeting of the North Otago Progress League last evening by Messrs A. A. Gillies and J. Graham, both returned men of the present war who alleged that many men were being rehabilitated into work for which they were not suited and that such cases could not be remedied because the local rehabilitation committees had no authority. As' representatives of the Returned Services’ Association on the Progress League. Messrs Gillies and Graham said their association would, be pleased to Have the assistance of the league on the question of rehabilitation. Mr Gillies said his Own experience of rehabilitation had been unfortunate. He was desirous of going into business on his own account, and had approached the rehabilitation authority in regard to two businesses. Both had since been sold to Dunedin firms, and in one case he received an apology and in the other he was still awaiting advice. “Rehabilitation in Oamaru is very unsatisfactory,” added Mr Gillies, “and this is due to the fact that everything has to he referred to Wellington.” Mr Graham cited the case of a returned man. a fisherman, with a boat deteriorating in Oamaru. who had been directed to work on a farm. This man’s case had been taken up, and he was to be redrafted to his own industry. hut it was typical of the way rehabilitation was being administered, he said.

After citing a further case of what he termed “misdirection,” Mr Graham said that returned men should be reestablished in their own industries, but where everything was centralised in Wellington the local committees could do little to assist these men. After further discussion, in which reference was made to returned men out of work, it was decided that a deputation from the Progress League should wait on the Oamaru Rehabilitation Officer to offer the league’s assistance in improving the position.