REHABILITATION

Greymouth Evening Star, 25 July 1945, Page 2

REHABILITATION

EX-PRISONERS OF WAR WELLINGTON, July 25. Ex-prisoners of war of all arms of the services, irrespective of medical grading can apply for any form of rehabilitation assistance, said the Minister of Rehabilitation (Mr. Skinner) to-day. n x t The Minister said there appeared to be some misunderstanding on the subject. “The policy in regard to all ex-prisoners of war will be to give them complete freedom of choice of employment in the same' manner as applies to down-graded personnel, said' Mr. Skinner. “These men have gone through some tough experiences. It is up to us the Government, and people alike, to do as much as humanly possible to re-establish them in civil life. The sooner that is done the better. Most of them want to forget the past and concentrate on the future. If this can to some extent be accomplished through the benefits of rehabilitation, then it will be a worthwhile accomplishment for the Rehabilitation Board and the Department. The fact that they do not get actual technical discharge from the services authorities should not worry these men. Actually no man in the upper medical gradings, get his discharge until the war is over, and yet many of these men are even now. receiving rehabilitation assistance in cases where their technical obligations are no obstacle. The Government has decided that ex-prisoners of war will be • free from manpower obligations, and able to apply for all forms of assistance. That in itself is sufficient guarciirtee* ,J i The Minister said it would assist toward a speedier settlement of indii vidual cases if ex-prisoners of war made their applications for assistance , before the expiry of .their leave period. : However, it ■ was realised that many ! would wish to give the whole matter weighty consideration before taking anv definite step. In all cases, it was a good idea to talk over their problems with the local Rehabilitation Officer or District Committee.