DISABLED SOLDIERS

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 143, 19 June 1931, Page 8

DISABLED SOLDIERS

RE-ESTABLISHMENT ACT

TO BE PUT INTO OPERATION

FINANCES ARRANGED

An announcement that the Government was taking immediate steps to put into operation tho Disabled Soldiers' Civil Be;establishnient Act, passed last year, was made by the Minister of Defence (the Hon.J. G. Cobbe) to-day. The Act, which was based upon tho report of the Ex-Soldiers' Behabilitation Commission, provides for the re-establishment in civil employment or occupations of disabled members of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force and the New Zealand Boer War contingents, irrespective of whothcr disability is due to the effects of war service or other causes, and whether the soldier applying for assistance is in receipt of a pension. For the purpose of assisting disabled soldiers to obtain suitable employment or to engage in suitable occupations, the Minister in Charge of War Pensions may— (a) Appoint local advisory committees in respect of specified districts or localities. (b) Make arrangements with employers for the employment of disabled soldiers. (c) Establish and carry on schemes for vocational training of disabled soldiers. ■ (d) Make payments to disabled soldiers to supplement their earnings in any employment. "Provision is made for tho appointment, so far as practicable, to every local advisory committee of representatives of societies or associations controlling war funds, of organisations of employers and of workers, of the New Zealand Eeturned Soldiers' Association, and the Now Zealand branch of the British Bed Cross and Order of St. John," stated tho Minister. "There is also provision for the appointment as members of the Public Service of such employment and vocational officers as may be necessary for the purpose of carrying out the objects of tho Act. "Although the Act has been on the Statute Book since October of last year, tho Government has been unable, owing to the depression and financial stringency, to set its machinery in motion. As financial arrangements have now been completed, it has now been decided to appoint almost immediately the local advisory committees, nominations for which have already been received from all interested bodies, except the New Zealand Employers' Federation,' and at the same time to appoint tho employment officers who will co-operate with the committees. When these appointments havo been made, the Pensions Department will be in a position to receive and deal with applications from ex-soldiers wishing to avail themselves of the provisions of the Act.

"The general administration of the Act is placed in the hands of the Commissioner of Pensions, and the Minister has authority to delegate to tho Commissioner such of his powers and functions under the Act as he thinks fit."