“WAR GOING WELL”

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24545, 19 April 1945, Page 6

“WAR GOING WELL”

REHABILITATION PROBLEMS

COMMENT BY HON F. JONES

“The war is going well on every front, and it is well that we in New Zealand have done our share to bringing liberty and freedom to this country and the countries of the world,’’ said the Minister of Defence (the Hon. F. Jones) last evening at the annual reunion of the Christchurch branch of the Returned Services’ Association. “We hope it won’t be long before the war in Europe is over. We will still have a job to undertake as far as the Japanese are concerned. We will do it just as efficiently as we have done the other one.’’

“We all hope it will soon be over—and that will throw responsibility on you and me to see that we do justice to the men and women who have done eo much for us,” the Minister said. In rehabilitation, no centre had been more helpful than Christchurch. There was no better club in New Zealand than the Union Jack Club. Many pilots and observers in the Air Force had never been trained for civil life. The opportunity was presented to everybody to do all they possibly could to assist the Government in helping the youngsters—for they were only youngsters. The same remarks applied to the Army and the Navy. “Great work has been done by them, and the least we can is to do all we. possibly can for those who have done so much for us," said Mr Jones. Commenting on the attendance at the reunion of “so many young members.” who have joined the association, Mr Jones said: “There is room for only one association in New Zealand.” proposing the toast of the N.Z.R.S.A., the Mayor (Mr E. H. Andrews) said the aftermath of war was usually confusion and distress. The best way of facing the problems was by the united action of soldiers, who should infuse in the Government, the local bodies, and the citizens their spirit and the need of-recognition of their rights. There was a danger that, after the war. they would get into a comatose state and drift along.: , A Vbice: It will be all right if Peter Fraser is on deck. (Laughter.) Only returned servicemen’s associations could keep things up to the mark, said.the Mayor, who spoke on the seriousness of the. housing situation. Some city councillors said the provision of hojislng was the Government’s responsibility. The Government had made provision for local bodies to raise money to build houses. The council whs willing to borrow at the Government’s low rate of interest; but if the Government could not find men and materials to build houses how could a local body do so? Voices: No show. The council proposed building 50 houses, but that was only a drop in the bucket, continued Mr Andrews. Returned men did not want palatial homes, but they wanted homes, to which they were entitled, for their wives and families. All these problems could best be faced by a united Organisation s>t returned servicemen, who should get togethes or they would get nowhere. A „ . , A voice; You are right. Mr AndThe Mayor; If you don’t hang together you will hang separately. (Ladghter.) , , .. Mr G. A. Hayden, secretary of the National Patriotic Fund, who' replied said that in spirit the Rehabilitation Act of New Zealand was the best in the world, and the servicemen should see that the spirit was carried into action. ■