REHABILITATION ASSISTANCE

Evening Star, Issue 25496, 29 May 1945, Page 6

REHABILITATION ASSISTANCE

AVAILABLE TO MEN RETURNING UNDER REPLACEMENT SCHEME (P.A.; WELLINGTON, May 2b. " Tnere seems to be some misunderstanding among grade 1. men who recently returned to the Dominion under the replacement scheme, tliat they are not able to apply for, any form of rehabilitation assistance. On the- contrary, the Rehabilitation Board will bo pleased to consider applications from such men who wish to be helped to reestablish themselves in civil life," says a statement issued to-night by the Rehabilitation Department. " There'are. however, certain types of assistance bearing on a man's employment where it is necessary first to obtain the concurrence of the National Service Department to free him from his man-power obligations. These are where he wishes to acquire a farm, or business or desires to take trade training or a full-time educational course. In the .interests of the men themselves it would be better if they made their appjications before the expiry of their leave, so that if they have any concrete proposals there would be more time to consider them before they become'actually subject to direction into industry." The statement adds that every case would be largely treated on its merits with a view both to the man's longterm rehabilitation and to how he could most usefully serve the war effort. With primary production holding such priority, booh at present and in the future, there was usually little difficulty in the way of returned grade I. men with the required experience taking over farms of their own. except, perhaps, in cases where a man had recently been released from farm work to enter the armed forces and a returned man could take his place. Regarding businesses, there was little to prevent a grade T. returned man from being assisted into a business which was an essential undertaking, especially where lie was trained for the business contemplated. There was also little difficulty in placing a man in a business where he had good prospects of succeeding if he had no pre-service experience in the industries now declared essential. It would, however, not be in the national interest at present to place grade I. men with building experience, for instance, in businesses not connected with the building industry. Every consideration wal given to men graded 1. who wished to enter a trade trcaining centre, particularly since these centres trained men for the building industry. Regarding full-time educational grants, the statement added that where a returned man had been studying full time before his. service, the hoard usually favoured his completing his studies on a full-time basis, and the National Service Department generally concurred, whether the man was grade I. or not. In the case of grade I. men who had returned for dntv or on compassionate leave or on other grounds after two years' service, their eligibility for assistance was in the meantime limited to loans to build or purchase houses, buy furniture, or the preferential allocation of State houses.