Rehabilitation

Hutt News, Volume 19, Issue 13, 29 August 1945, Page 5

Rehabilitation

LOCAL I'HOHLEMS I CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 1 DISCUSSIONS The recent transfer of the Hutt Rehabilitation Office to Wellington has been the cause of some concern to the Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce and at last weeks meeting of that body it was reported that a deputation, comprising Messrs. H. E. Combs, M.P.; J. Cummings, M.L.C.; J. W. Andrews and L. V. Phillips liad waited upon the Minister for Rehabilitation (Mr. Skinner) who had shown a very ready appreciation of the position. Both the Minister and Mr. Nash had the matter in hand and they had given a firm assurance that Hutt would again have its own Rehabilitation Offices. The sole difficulty lay in securing suitable premises and all avenues in this connection were being explored. It was understood that the Lower Hutt City Council had offered temporary accommodation and this too was being investigated. Mr. C. E. Moran tabled a report showing the amount of business handled by the Lower Hutt Office from its inception in November 1943 until its transfer in July last. These figures showed that grants for the erection of houses totalled 44, representing an expenditure of £63,300 grants for the purchase of houses were 87, totalling £116,795; businesses 100 (£53,024); furniture 127 (£12,365); tools of trade 16 (£774); miscellaneous 26 (£1343); applications declined (£29,810); making a total of 432 applications dealt with and £277,411 disbursed to grants. In addition there were 60 applications (total £581) gra.nted while 83 further applications were dealt with which did not involve finance but concerned licenses, rationed goods, supplies, etc. "In view of these figures," said Mr. Moran, "he questioned whether the Chamber should assist Services Contact Centre along the lines previously suggested or devote all their efforts to supporting and co-operat-ing with the local Returned Services Placement officer." Mr. H. G. Lewis pointed out that the Chamber had promised to assist the Commercial Services Contact Centre and he felt they should keep their word. A subscription to the Centre would not prevent the Chamber co-operating heartily with the local placement officers.

After further discussion it was unanimously resolved to subscribe £50 to the Services Commercial Contact Centre'and to form a combined committee to assist the local officers in the placing of returned men The combined committee is to be comprised of representatives of the Chamber of Commerce, the Junior Branch, the Rotary Club and the H.V.R.S.A. The Chamber's appointments to the joint committee are Messrs. C. H. Griffin, E. S. Carey, H. V. Horlor, N. T. Gillespie, T. Fisher, L. Phillips