CARE FOR EX-SERVICEMEN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20560, 10 May 1930, Page 10

CARE FOR EX-SERVICEMEN.

What the Ex-Soldiers' Rehabilitation Commission describes as its major recommendation merits a very favourable reception afc the hands of Parliament. It is that there should lie set up a special organisation empowered to deal with all

' cases of disability arising out of the Great War. The scope of the in- | quiry was very wide and included 1 matters relating to South African ' | war veterans and other actual and ! potential pensioners; but quite 1 rightly most attention was paid to 1 the aftermath of national responsi- > bility that has remained a very serious part of the harvest of the recent | world-wide conflict. The name of the proposed special body—the Soldiers' Civil Re-establishment League —indicates its main purpose, which is expressly "to reduce the need for pension by increasing the economic and earning factors in each man's life." This is in accord with sound principles and with all that is reasonably expected by the men themselves, but it does not mean that any deprived of earning power by war disability will be placed at any disadvantage. On the contrary, it is declared that all who aro in the class of 50 per cent, disability or over, and therefore to be regarded as unemployable, will be recommended for the full economic pension. Apart from these, all cases of potential pensioners will be considered by the league, which it is proposed should operate through departments of its central committee and local agencies in touch with the men and local conditions, in connection with the league's efforts to find lliem work. The scheme is obviously tho outcome of wide and thorough inquiry, and promises to be an effective way of handling what has been found a practical problem of considerable difficulty as well as urgency in many cases. Given such an efficient body as the recommendation has in view, n body to be entrusted with large powers because of its thorough knowledge of conditions and of the varied needs of the men, if should prove a successful scheme. About the desirability of handling Hie problem in a just and equitable way there can only be one opinion. The evidence taken by the commission must have madn that abundantly clear. There has never been any doubt that; the nation's responj sibilitv to the men ought to be shoulI dered, but there has been some ' doubt as to whether the means hifherto taken were achieving the in- | fended end. Legislation will be necessary to give effect to the recommendations If should lie intro- ' duced as soon as possible, and painsJ takingly considered.