THE NEEDS OF EX-SOLDIERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 May 1930, Page 8

THE NEEDS OF EX-SOLDIERS.

The telegraphed summary of the report' of the ex-soldiers’ Rehabilitation Commission is long and comprehensive enough to indicate that the inquiries made by the commission covered a very wide field, and that thoroughness characterised its work. The task that the commission had to face was anything but an easy one. The original legislation making provision for the care of members of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force on their return from service abroad was framed under pressure, and it was obviously impossible for the Legislature and the private citizens whose ideas were called to its aid to foresee during the war period and immediately after it alKthe requirements that would have to be met as- time went on. The pensions scheme was formulated before the changed conditions that were the result of the war were fully understood, and the various provisions for the repatriation of the demobilised forces had to be thought out quickly. In spite of the mistakes that were made a very substantial measure of success wag achieved in the repatriation of men who were in a condition to help themselves. The administration of the pensions scheme also was well handled on the whole, and from time to time the legislation covering the granting of pensions was amended so as to meet the necessities that arose. As experience was gathered, however, it was realised that a number of cases existed in which neither repatriation assistance nor pension payments had solved the problem of the rehabilitation in civil life of meh dependents, and it was in the hope that finality .could be reached that the eommission was appointed. The result is a series of proposals relating to the ex-soldiers of the Great War, South African veterans and others, and from them the Government and Parliament should obtain satisfactory guidance when they shape the legislation that is still necessary to the discharge of a national obligation. What is called in the report the major recommendation of the commission is the appointment of the Soldiers’ Civjl Re-establishment League, whose chief purpose will be to “reduce the need for pensions by increasing the economic and earning factors in each man’s life.” The commission’s conclusion is that men who have suffered disability to the extent of 50 per cent, or over are unemployable, and must have the full economic pension. It is the other men, “potential pensioners,” aa the report calls them, who are to be rehabilitated. It is proposed that the league shall work through local committees, thus equipping itself with the maximum of information concerning every man to be dealt with, and there can be no doubt but that many citizens who have already done good work for the returned men would gladly serve on these committees. The scheme is full of promise, and deserves careful and favourable consideration.