CONTROL OF REHABILITATION

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 79, 15 April 1944, Page 5

CONTROL OF REHABILITATION

KrS.A. CRITICISM Cambridge, April 14. Keen interest and strong speaking marked a representative meeting ot the R.S.A. here last night. The following resolution was unanimously carried; "The Cambridge Returned Services Association strongly protests against the centralised control of rehabilitation being in the hands of State Departments acting as agents for the Rehabilitation Board, thus denying the R.S.A. and the public generally the democratic right to assist in the rehabilitation of servicemen. The branch deprecates the situation which is mak ing disappointed applicants Cor farms and houses dissatisfied, and urges the* utmost pressure being used to have a measure of decentralisation brought about and the same authority given to experienced individuals, nominated bv the returned service associations and other organisations interested in the welfare of discharged servicemen.” Speakers were strongly of opinion that the Government was allowing the State Advances Department to usurp the powers of the Rehabilitation Board, with the result that the local commitees were nothing more than rubber stamps, and that the whole situation was so unsatisfactory that it was time action was taken by the R.S.A. throughout the country to have the rehabilitation of soldiers placed on a basis more | in keeping with the promises originally j made to the soldiers.