DISABLED EX-SOLDIERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20339, 21 August 1929, Page 13

DISABLED EX-SOLDIERS.

HUNDREDS OUT. .OE WORK<>

NEED OF MORE ASSISTANCE.

APPEAL TO GOVERNMENT.

[By TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

WELLINGTON. Tuesday.

A statement that there were nearly'! 1000 disabled returned soldiers out of work in New Zealand was-mado by Mr. F. Wait© (Reform —Clutha) in tho House to-day.

Mr. Waite thought it was gonerally admitted that New Zealand had done more in the way of pensions for returned soldiers than other countries had done, and even in settling returned men on the land he believed New Zealand had been more successful than other countries. Australia had been less successful than New Zealand with its returned soldiers' land settlement scheme, and the failures in the Commonwealth had been largely due to the same factors as had caused trouble to a lesser extent in New Zealand.

All funds that had been provided for returned soldiers would be required and they were koeping a very close watch on the canteen fund. Vocational training and the Repatriation Act had done very much to assist ex-servicemen, but it was now becoming evident that these schemes had been dropped too soon. All disabled ex-servicemen should be given assistance, whether their injuries had been received in the war or not. He referred to the legislation affecting the employment and conditions of disabled exservicemen in European countries, and suggested tho time was opportune for legislation to be introduced to do something more for disabled men in New Zealand. Mr. Waite said the Returned Soldiers' Association had investigated the position and had collected details indicating that there were 957 disabled men out of work. Of this total there were over 500 who could earn their living if suitable employment were available. He mentioned the types of employment that were reserved for disabled ex-servicemen in Britain and other countries, and said he thought something should be done in this direction in New Zealand.

Returned soldiers were not satisfied that the Government was doing all it could to meet the needs of the situation. Mr. Waite said he was not referring only to the present Government; the Reform Government, too, had not done as much as he would have liked it to have done. Government departments should set -an example to private employers in providing work for partially disabled men, who would be much happier if they could earn their own living. Tho maintaining of their self-respect was a most important phase of the problem.

Mr. Waite said the patriotic funds were rapidly being used and the canteen fund was regarded as the last line of defence. He regretted that the Budget did not indicate that any money had been set aside for the formation of a commission to inquire into the whole subject, as the Returned Soldiers' Association had asked.