REHABILITATION

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 81, 3 October 1944, Page 4

REHABILITATION

FUNDS FOR SOLDIERS

CHANGE IN CONTROL URGED

Concern as to whether the true spirit of rehabilitation, as- visualised when the Rehabilitation Act was framed and discussed, was being administered has been expressed by the Home Servicemen's Association. In a letter to the Prime Minister the executive of the association states that it is felt that the machinery of the State Advances Corporation, owing to the commercial outlook and special training of its officers, does not lend itself to the sympathetic treatment and the acceptance of special risks, needed if the rehabilitation of ex-servicemen is to be complete and successful,

"No criticism of the State Advances Corporation or its officers, in the handling of its normal business is implied—such a Government Department must adhere to recognised standard business procedure . and must be guided by requirements of the necessary margin of security, regularity of repayment, and interest returns," states the letter. "Its officers are judged very largely on such matters and in the maintenance of regular profits, all of which are foreign to the spirit of rehabilitation. In its own sphere, the corporation has a reputation for efficiency, and there is no desire to see this diminished, but this very efficiency is, in the opinion of this association, a barrier to successful rehabilitation finance, where assistance must be given without stint and, in certain cases, without regard to the risk of loss." In a formal resolution embodying the foregoing arguments, the association recommends: "That a fund, sufficient for the financing of all servicemen's rehabilitation needs, be-provided and maintained in the control and at the disposal of the Rehabilitation Department, and that the administration and control of such advances to servicemen be transferred from the State Advances Department to the Rehabilitation Department. "Further, that the Rehabilitation Department be authorised to make advances based on the full and actual economic needs of each case so that no serviceman's rehabilitation may be restricted by an initial shortage of capital. "Further, that although the policy of taking security must -„ apply, the value of such security and the absence of collateral security shall have no effect on the final decision to make an advance, provided that a suitable committee recommends and the board is of the opinion that the serviceman has a reasonable chance of success in the chosen occupation.

"Further, that in making such recommendations the committee should exercise a strong vocational and occupational guidance and should have regard to the recommendations of suitable medical and other authorities and the economic situation and prospects, etc., of the area in which the serviceman proposed to operate.

"Further, that where due substantially to his service, an applicant's prospects of success are uncertain, the Rehabilitation Department shall not be held responsible for any loss sustained in excess of securities if the chosen occupation was recommended as desirable in the interests of the serviceman's state of health, nerve, or mind, the opportunity for success existed and sufficient capital was in fact provided," >

The urgent and favourable considera tion of the Government to these pro posals was urged. .