OUT OF THE FORCES

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 151, 23 December 1944, Page 8

OUT OF THE FORCES

OVER SIXTY THOUSAND

REHABILITATION FIGURES

Latest returns show that at the end of November 60,220 service men and women (34,754 from overseas and 25,466 from home service) had been demobilised from the Armed Forces. In November, 3067 returned personnel and 812 home service men and women were demobilised, making a total of 3879 for the month.

"An analysis of the placement figures of ex-service men and women shows that over all 69 per cent, have placed themselves in employment, businesses, and on farms, while 31 per cent, have required assistance from the Rehabilitation Department," said the Minister of Rehabilitation (Mr. Skinner) last night. "Proportionately more returned personnel than home service men and women have so far required assistance in placement. The percentages for returned men and women are 64 per cent, self-placed and 36 per cent, assisted. For home service personnel 74 per cent, were selfplaced and 26 per cent, required assistance.

"Though we are naturally at all times ready to assist any number of ex-service men and women to rehabilitate themselves," continued the Minister, "from the point of view of the men themselves the higher the percentage in the self-placed category the better. Many men have had to be placed in employment more than once by the Department, but in each case the returns show only one placement. Then there are many cases in which men have been assisted to find employment, but later have placed them- | selves, in which case they are shown [in the returns simply as being selfplaced. MAN-POWER DIRECTIONS. "Another point which should be borne in mind, particularly with regard to home service personnel, is that a large proportion of them have been directed into employment under the Man-power Regulations, and many jwill probably require assistance into (permanent jobs after the war. Furthermore, though the great majority manage to find themselves employment or return to their former work, thousands of them have required assistance from the Rehabilitation Department in other ways, including housing, furniture, and miscellaneous forms of financial help. "The main headings showing the disposal of demobilised personnel are as follows:—Not yet discharged, returned to service, on leave, in hospital, recuperating, etc., 12,568; undergoing full-time training, 1658; placed with pre-service employer, 1210; self-placed with pre-service employer, 14,492----placed without subsidy with other private employer, 8348; self-placed with other private employer, 12,556; placed without subsidy in State employ, 714----self-placed without subsidy in State employ, 616; placed with subsidy in intermediate scheme, 21; returned to own business or farm, 2858; acquired own business or farm, 2379. "Of the 2379 shown as havin<* acquired their own business or farm 1071 were assisted with rehabilitation