REHABILITATION

Grey River Argus, 8 September 1945, Page 7

REHABILITATION

WELLINGTON, September 3. ’ The total number of men assisted through the Rehabilitation Board by loans for business, farms, and other purposes was 14,765 up to July 31 last fox' a total amount of £9,541,000, said Mr. E. L. Cullen (Government, Hawke’s Bay), a ’member of the Rehabilitation Board, in the House. That was the expenditure as fax’ as the board was concerned to July 31, but ■he felt that twice that amount would be needed in the coming year. A large number of men had returned, and they were applying not only foxsettlement on the land,' but for the purchase of businesses. ' The area of land acquired by the Land Purchase Board to July 31 was 137,000 acres, and of that amount 33,000 acres had been taken for soldier settlement, added Mr. Cullen. That was altogether apart from the area of land purchased individually. Properties taken under Section 51 of the Servicemen's Settlement and Land Sales Act numbered ninetythree single units and ninety-three properties that could be subdivided. He disagreed with the contention that production had not increased as a result of the settlement of about one thousand returned men on the land. He would say it had increased by about 30 per cent. Referring to the number of men who had taken advantage of the education opportunities offered by the Rehabilitation Board, Mr. Cullen expressed the hope that many more returned men would take advantage of that opportunity. It was pleasing to see a large number of young men who went away with their education only partly finished again picking up the threads. The general education system of the board was to encourage that, not only were young men taking advantage of that opportunity, but also men from 35 Io 40 were makixxg application for a general brush-up in the profession they carried on before the war. Mr. R. M. Algie (National, Remuera): This is an era of new enlightenment. Mr. Cullen: It is the new world order. . . For the part it is playing m assisting the rehabilitation of returned servicemen, private enterprise _ was commended by Mr. Cullen. Private individuals had given the greatest assistance in training men, giving them and assisting them on to farms or into whatever business they favoured.