CIVIL LIFE AGAIN

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 24851, 24 March 1944, Page 4

CIVIL LIFE AGAIN

REHABILITATION AIM MINISTER REVIEWS PROGRESS (8.R.) WELLINGTON, Thursday _ The aim of the Government's rehabilitation policy was to see that the men and women who helped to save the country got a share of it, said the Minister of Rehabilitation, the Hon. C. F. Skinner, in the House of Representatives to-night in announcing that decentralisation was the purpose of establishing 29 branches under the charge of rehabilitation officers. It-was hoped this would speed up the handling of cases by giving to the branch executives authority to grant loans and make other decisions. The Minister said that the Rehabilitation Board must retain the right to over-rule recommendations of the committees. Many recommendations sent forward related to men who wanted to buy farms, but who were quite inexperienced as farmers and who should not properly have farms of their own at that stage. 9000 Soldiers In Pre-war Jobs Discussing the return of men to their pre-war jobs Mr. Skinner said that the Occupational Re - establishment Emergency Regulations Act had been observed in the spirit by_ the great majority of employers, but in a few instances tho interpretation had not been in the spirit of the legislation. Only Jo employers had shown any reluctance to take 'their old employees back and when it was realised that more than 9000 soldier employees had been received back in their pre-war positions it would be seen that the record was not bad. , .... • i Regarding eligibility the Minister said that broadly the Government's policy was that the man or woman who came back last from the war was entitled to as great consideration as those who returned earlier. There was to be no favouritism and none of the first-conie-first-served principle. Every member of tho Rehabilitation Board except one was a returned serviceman.

Placing Men On Farms It was a guiding principle of the board, the Minister continued, that no man would be placed on a farm that was not an economic proposition. Ho knew of no man who had been settled unsuccessfully. So far well over 200 men had been settled on freehold farms and more than 90 k or cent had* been settled with 100 per cent loans. Mr. F. W. Doidge (Opposition—lauranga) r How many applicants for farms ? ,_ The Minister snicl he could not answer offhand, but the number of app»cants for training as farmers and for loans to buy farms was under 1000. Ihe number who had gone into_ farm training was comparatively small, only nine being in training and 40 others training at agricultural colleges. Very few farmers had been willing to take subsidised trainees. Ho knew of not a single farmer who had come forward anr? offered to take a subsidised trainee. The Director of Rehabilitation. Colonel Baker, was a man of outstanding ability, said the Minister, in explaining that lie had been selected by the Cabinet from three names from over 100 applications considered by the Public Service Commissioner. Rehabilitation could only be a success through the successful undertaking of the bigfer task of national reconstruction, here was no possibility of settling all the ex-servicemen and women through rehabilitation and _ industries would have to be reorganised and extended to bear their share.

FERTILISER SUPPLIES PROSPECTS OF INCREASE (S.R.) WELLINGTON, Thursday The prospects of additional supplies of fertiliser being available for the 1944-45 rationing year was mentioned by the Minister of Agriculture, the Hon. B. Roberts, in the House of Representatives, in a reply to a question by Mr. M. H. Oram (Opposition—Manawatu), who had asked whether the Minister would modify the method of distribution to ensure that supplies were made according to the needs of land, and not on average previous purchases. The Minister said that distribution methods bad been discussed with the National Council of Primary Production, and it was felt that the basic ration now in operation should continue, but that all additional fertiliser available should be allocated on a priority basis. It was expected that this method would be advantageous to the drive for increased production. HOSPITAL RATING SOCIAL SECURITY NO HELP (P.A.) DUNEDIN, Thursday A complaint that social security had not relieved the ratepayers from increases in hospital rates was made at the meeting of the Otago Hospital Board by the chairman, Mr. J. W. Dove, in commenting on the increase of nearly £7OOO in the maintenance levy for 1944-45. In one way, said Mr. Dove, the board was very much better off as a result of the introduction of social security, because there was now little need of outdoor relief, but there had been a much greater demand for hospital treatment. Dr. W. Newlands said the Government had not played the game in tho distribution of social security in forcing hospital boards to bear so much of the costs of hospital treatment. It would not even allow a board to receive from other boards higher fees for specialised treatment for patients from outside districts who could not obtain treatment from their own hospitals. RADIO FACILITIES POLITICAL BROADCASTS (S.TU WELLINGTON, Thursday No special broadcasting facilities were granted to members of the Government other than those for Ministers iu their executive capacities for announcing or explaining Government decisions, making appeals concerning the war effort, or when speaking at ceremonies, stated the Prime Minister, tho ]{t. Hon. P. Fraser, in the House of Representatives, in a reply to a question tabled previously by Mr. J. T. Watts- (Opposition—Riccarton). Mr. Watts had asked whether tho Prime Minister would extend to the Opposition when Parliament was in recess facilities over tho radio similar to those granted to members of the Government and their nominees. Mr. Fraser said a fair opportunity to broadcast their views on party politics was accorded to all members of parties in the broadcasts from Parliament, and no arrangements seemed necessary to enable additional broadcasts of these matters when Parliament was in recess. MOTORIST CHARGED FATAL ACCIDENT SEQUEL Three charges arising out of a fatal accident in Khyber Pass Road on January 1 were denied by Percy Hagger, aged 32 (Mr. Noblo), before Mr. F. H. Levien, S.M., yesterday. Accused was charged with driving a motor-car negligently in Khyber Pass Road, thereby ' causing the death of Owen Conrad Gibbings, with failing to render all practicable assistance to Gibbings, and with failing to stop to ascertain whether lie had been injured. SubInspector Harley prosecuted. Evidence ivas given that a collision occurred between a motor-cycle ridden by Gibbings, a single man aged 21, and a motor-car. Gibbings died in the Auckland Hospital from the injuries ho received. Accused pleaded not guilty and was oommitted to the Supreme Qoyrt for trial, Bail seas ftllowoas j