REHABILITATION BOARD

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 78, 23 June 1943, Page 5

REHABILITATION BOARD

DEFENCE BY MINISTER NO SERVICE PERSONNEL OVERLOOKED (From Our Parliamentary Reporter) Wellington, This Day. A defence of the Rehabilitation Board was made by the Minister in Charge of Rehabilitation Mr R. Semple, in his Budget Debate speech in the House of Representatives last night, when he referred to some criticism that had been voiced earlier in the Debate. He said there had not been one case of failure to offer assistance to a demobilised serviceman or woman. Mr Semple said that all cases were kept under review and were followed up until finality was reached. Even after that, contact was maintained to ensure that men were happy and satisfied. Assistance was given in educational facilities, loans for tools of trade, furniture, purchase of businesses, farms, stock and houses, land settlement and farm and trade training.

The Minister added that the number of servicemen and women demobilised as at 31st March last was 19,294. He gave the following details in connection with this total —not yet discharged, on leave in hospitals, recuperating, etc., 5808; intentions undecided, 397; undergoing full-time training, 156; placed in employment or returned to old employer, 10,591; returned to or acquired own business or farm, 994; depending on private means, 74; refused all help or unable to trace, 1044; enrolled for placement. 146; left New Zealand, 34; deceased, 50. Loans totalling 900 of a value of £377,188, had been granted. He said that to date 50 had been settled on the land.