N.Z. REHABILITATION

Grey River Argus, 26 February 1944, Page 3

N.Z. REHABILITATION

SIMILAR APPLICATION TO RETURNED AND HOME SERVICEMEN. WELLINGTON, Feb. 25. “All ex-servicemen and women whether their service has been in New Zealand or overseas, are eligible for consideration under the Government’s rehabilitation schemes said Hon. C. F. Skinner (Minister ol Rehabilitation), in a statement tonight. “This is -in accordance . with the broad objects of rehabilitation, which are to reinstate ex-service-peysonnel in civil life and to ensure that as far as possible, they are reinstated in positions not less favourable than they would have OC" cupied but for their service wim the armed forces. . “In considering applications lor assistance, all cases arc dealt with on their merits. The guiding factors in determining the measure and the nature of the assistance to be given, are hardship and, or, loss suffered through, or as a result of service. In assessing the hardship suffered the length and nature of service and the localities in which it has been rendered and the risks and dangers involved are taken into account as far as humanly possible. There is at times, difficulty in assessing -the merits of the applicants, either men or women who have not been in action or who have not served in fighting zones. Frequently the loss in such cases will be .as great as for those who have served in the front line, but the soldiers’ personal hardship will generally not be the same. Nevertheless, hardship to a family arising through separation, may and frequently will be, ecu,al in both cases. It is not possible to lay down any hard and fast rules for application to servicemen and women from different zones and therefore all applications are dealt with on their merits and in the light of the policy defined above. Ex-servicomei} and women are assured that whatever applications they mhke for rehabilitation assistance , will receive careful consideration. In cases of doubt the Rehabirtat'on Committees or branches of the Rehabilitation Department are instructed to represent, the full facts ' to the Rehabilitation Board.’’