POST-WAR PROBLEMS

Evening Star, Issue 24917, 15 July 1943, Page 3

POST-WAR PROBLEMS

REHABILITATION A VITAL ISSUE VIEWS OF FARMERS' PRESIDENT (Special.) WELLINGTON, July, 14. " With the increasing hope that the next year or two will see the end of the war, it is time to be giving some Attention to post-war conditions," "said Mr W. W, Mulholland in his presidential address to delegates attending the annual conference of the New Zealand Farmers' Union yesterday. " Already principles are being established and-written into more or. less binding undertakings which must play an important part in determining the policy of the peace treaties, and, in turn, must "have an enormous influence upon economic conditions in the post-war world. The Atlantic Charter, which appears frequently to be quoted with little knowledge of its actual words, is the first, and perhaps the most important,, of these undertakings." Mr Mulholland, after quoting the fourth and fifth paragraphs of the charter, said that from the point of view of an agricultural exporting country such as ours, an important omission was obvious. Equality of access to raw materials was specifically ! laid down, but there was no mention of access to markets.' It seemed to him : that undue emphasis had been laid on access, or want of access, to raw materials

i immediately prior to Ihe war, and since. | The historical fact was that countries which " were usually regarded as having lacked | access to raw materials did not lack that I access because the raw materials were hiaccessible, but because they deliberately closed their markets to the raw materials | that were available. Mr Mulholland gave various American and British opinions on I this subject at length. " Summing it all up," he said, "it is obvious that there i is a tremendous weight of opinion in favour. lof a continuation of a very considerable I amount of State control of purchases of 'foodstuffs, and also of international con- ! trol of the production of foodstuffs.. -In my opinion it has now become urgent that the primarv producers of the Empire should systematically clarify their views on the . p'robletm raised, and the policies indicated, with the object of obtaining general agreement on main policy in regard to their particular interests. REHABILITATION. After reviewing scope and resources in relation to rehabilitation, Mr Mulholland said, in speaking of the human material, that men, subject to military discipline,

and to the rigours and excitements of military campaigning, could not be expected to be turned back into the ordinary civilians they were in 1939 by merely marching them outside the camp gates. Time was needed for both mental and physical readjustment, and one of the most portant considerations would be to allow these men ample time to- settle down to civilian life before they were forced to make important decisions in regard to their future. Some would go easily and readily back to their pre-war occupations. ■ Others would find these very widespread and would require time to adjust their menial outlook, and to find out what they themselves reallv wanted. " Demobilisation should be systematic (from the rehabilitation point of view and not from the military point of view), and should not be too rapid," said Mr Mulholland. "On the other band, the men must not be kepi, in idleness, whether before or after demobilisation, and the opportunity afforded by the interval necessary to obtain absorption of men in civilian employment should be used for manual and technical training. Even in. the case of skilled artisans, training in higher and more intricate branches of their industry will be profitable to them and to the nation. But there \yill be many who will, of necessity or choice, have to find avenues of employment other than those for which previous experience had fitted them. Provision should be made for the training of these so that they may undertake a new sphere with some knowledge, and not as a beginner. It should be clear from the outset that any man finding that lie has made a mistake, and that the type of I work which he has chosen is uncongenial,' will be free to make a change and enter I- some other field. It may be necessary to consider the continuance of military camps, which could act as a buffer to prevent the

development of unemployment through the adjustment of industry' not keeping pace with the rate of demobilisation. In any case a considerable military establishment will be necessary for some time, and should be maintained on the basis of periodic rather than full-time service, with sufficient flexibility to enable it to be used as. a buffer against too rapid demobilisation and unemployment. " Statements made by Ministers and members of the Rehabilitation Council have seemed to indicate that the authorities are looking to State undertakings, very large public works and State farming propositions, as the main line of policy for rehabilitation. Public works as a rehabilitation policy is a policy of despair. It is a policy of wasting men to provide work, a policy of wasting human' effort to keep people from want. The aim of a rehabilitation policy should be to enable each individual to find the niche in which he can make the greatest contribution to the happiness and welfare of himself and the community, while freely living his own life with the minimum of interference from the Slate or anyone else. Using the term ' discharged servicemen ' without close definition, each man should be entitled to a bonus which might reasonably be expected to place him in the position which normal savings, had war not intervened, would have placed him. Returned servicemen should be entitled to a substantial bonus, but, on no account should this be paid l

to the ex-serviceman in cash. It should be held as available capital for starling in an enterprise, and should only be available for (his purpose when- an authority has been satisfied that the necessary skill has been acquired and the enterprise offers reasonable prospects of success. In order that ex-servicemen should take sufficient time to assure themselves that the proposed venture is on the lines that they should undertake, there should be no time limit' on the availability, of this :,money, and, furl her, if, as will happen in' many cases, it is not availed of for this purpose, it should be held at iuterest and eventually be available for the purchase of ah annuity against disability or old age or some similar purpose. The spreading of the actual payment of the bonus over a period of years which this policy would ensure would also ease the l strain on the national finances in finding the money necessary for payment." He concluded' Villi a lengthy reference to the particular problems created by the land as an avenue of rehabilitation.