DISABLED EX-SOLDIERS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19693, 27 July 1938, Page 5

DISABLED EX-SOLDIERS

FINDING EMPLOYMENT

LEAGUE'S WORK PR AISED

CONFERENCE REQUESTS

H*ei Priigs AsNociution.)

WELLINGTON, this dav The difficulties that still confront the authorities in finding suitable employment for disabled returned soldiers, were stated at the annual meeting of the Soldiers' Civil Reestablishment League.

The meeting was opened toy the Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. Jones, who complimented the league on. its work. In such work, he said, the man and not the money should toe the first consideration. In helping disabled exsoldiers to take some work, or hobby, the league was doing valuable work. He thought, however, that vocational training, reference to which was made in the League's representations to the Government, was a big job and should not be entrusted to the league.

He appreciated the difficulties of reestablishing disabled ex-soldiers. About 2000 returned soldiers were employed by 'the Post and Telegraph Department and, in addition, the department had its own problems in finding light work for disabled members of its staff. The league would find that the Government would do its best to help

Vocational Training;

Resolutions were carried asking the Minister of Education, the Hon. P. Fraser, to reinstate the privilege previously enjoyed toy disa'bled soldiers of receiving free vocational training at technical schools, urging an extension of the scheme under which a number of disabled soldiers could be engaged as part-time postmen, and suggesting that in all cases where economic pensioners were taught home handicrafts, the Pensions Department make no deduction from the economic and dependants' pension for a reasonable period.

The following resolution was also carried:—"That this meeting places on record its appreciation of the efforts of the Government to provide full-time employment at standard rates of pay for fit ex-servicemen, and that headquarters be requested to take every opportunity of pressing the claim of the disabled soldier who is unable to support himself owing to war disability, for suitable employment with private employers, and that such claims should also be not overlooked in the Government's employment programme."