DISABLED RETURNED SOLDIERS

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 105, 28 January 1929, Page 12

DISABLED RETURNED SOLDIERS

PLANS TO HELP THEM VETERANS’ HOMES OR FARM COLONIES A meeting of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association was held last week to discuss the question of veterans’ homes or farm colonies. The following statement was afterwards handed to the Press: — “The following resolution was passed by the Dominion council of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association, in June last:—That this Dominion council appoint a Commission, consisting of pue member from each of the four provinces, together with the Dominion president, for the purpose of (a) thoroughly investigating the need for the establishment of veterans’ homes or farm colonies; (b) selecting suitable sites for same; (c) conferring with any other organisations for the purpose of acquiring suitable properties : that two members of the Canteen Funds Board be invited to join this Commission; that the Commission present its report at least four months prior to the annual Dominion council meeting, in order that local associations may give definite instructions on the subject to the delegates attending the council meeting; that application be made to the Canteen Funds Board to defray the expenses connected with the Commission.

“As the result, the following gathered in Wellington to discuss preliminaries in connection with the Commission:— Sir A. H. Russell, K.C.8., K.C.M.G., Dominion president N.Z.R.S.A, and chairman Canteen and Regimental Trust Funds Board; Messrs E. H. Sharp (secretary, Auckland R.S.A.), interim representative R.S.A.’s in Auckland province) ; J. T. Watson (secretary Wellington R.S.A.), interim representative R.S.A.’s in Wellington province; G. A. Hayden (vice-president Christchurch R.S.A.), representing R.S.A.’s in CanterJiury province; J. M. White (secretary, Dunedin R.S.A.). interim representative R. in Otago province; Colonel Beere, representative canteen and regimental trust funds board; Colonel Avery, representative Canteen and Regimental Trust Funds Board. “After consideration of the various points of view and discussing the suggestions and decisions of the N.Z.E.F. Canteen and Regimental Trust Funds Board, it was decided that definite particulars should be collected throughout the Dominion for presentation to the commission at a later date. The method of collecting the information and the detail of the data required was then decided upon. It wns decided to request the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association's Executive Standing Sub-Com-mittee to allow the general secretary (Mr. S. J. Harrison) to visit the four centres for the purpose of collecting evidence and preparing it in terms of the following order of reference:—

“Scope.—To thoroughly investigate the need for the establishment of veterans’ homes o'r farm colonies.

“Categories.—Each class of case considered needy to be summarised, but supporting detail to be in hand in case rexiuired: (i) Those whose habits are responsible for their plight; (ii) ‘unemployable’ ex-service men by reason of old age. premature old age. disabilities, etc., and the ‘misfits’ generally, who are not receiving war pensions; (iii) ‘unemployable’ war pensioners, single and without dependants; (iv) disabled ex-soldiers who could earn if suitable employment could be made available, (a) war pensioners, (b) not war pensioners; (v) disabled exsoldiers in ‘dead-end’ or temporary situations, including those relying on seasonal work nnd those in positions created out of sympathy(vi) disabled ex-soldiers relying on their efforts (in their homes) at basket-making, .' raffia and. such work to supplement their incomes: (vii) convalescent ex-soldicrs whose medical advisers consider that light- .employment would be beneficial.

“This is a definite attempt to solve n problem which has caused the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association and other organisations which come ■ in contact with the ex-service men a considerable amount of concern. If a solution can be found after careful investigation it will be of substantial, benefit not only to the men concerned but to th? Dominion as a whole. “It has, for instance, been suggested that the most feasible and economical solution would be to provide, bv means of carefully thought out workshops, for the utilisation of the remaining earning ability of the men who at present cannot., obtain work suitable for their cbmnlainfs nnd disablements; snclta scheme if adopted would. _ when the veterans' are no more, provide the Dominion with an avenue for employing those unfortunate people ininred in industrial pursuits and other walks of life.”