EARLY START URGED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20568, 30 May 1941, Page 6

EARLY START URGED

REPATRIATION WORK EX-SOLDIERS’ VIEWS (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. The report of the repatriation committee was considered by the conference of the Returned Soldiers’ Association and adopted. Among its recommendations is that a deputation should wait on the Government to stress the urgency of getting repatriation under way, not only because men were already returning but because of the valuable experience to be gained while the numbers to be dealt with were still small. The introduction of legislation setting up a national repatriation council with advisory committees throughout the country was recommended. Both should be representative ana service voluntary. Full use should be "made of the Soldiers’ Civil Reestablishment League for the rehabili.lation of the unfit and incapacitated men.

A repatriation department was recommended, its duties to include the enrolling and interviewing of returned or discharged members of the forces or their dependants, recommending them to the State Advances Department for housing and the Lands and Survey Department if suitable for farming pursuits, and to local advisory committees for vocational training, furniture and business loans, etc. Free educational and vocational facilities should be made available, with adequate sustenance for those awaiting employment or receiving training. Special facilities should be made available to enable members of the public service to reach positions that would have been available to them but for war service.

To keep the minds of the men alert and active, an educational scheme, both overseas and throughout New Zealand, was strongly recommended.