HOMESERVICEMEN

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23318, 29 September 1945, Page 4

HOMESERVICEMEN

Rehabilitation Aid Consideration Next Year (N.Z.P.A.) WELLINGTON. Sept. 23. The whole question of immediate rehabilitation assistance to Homeservicemen by wav of loans and preferential allocation of State rental houses is to be reviewed by the Rehabilitation Board at the end of March next. This decision was made at the last meeting of the Board. “In view of the present and expected demands of men with long overseas service it was decided that an extension of the policy now being followed was not possible.” savs the statement from the Board. “That policy is one of priority for men with greater claims as the result of service. Regarding housing assistance, it has been found necessary, as the result net cnlv of the shortage of houses hut also of bidding materials, to defer apnlicati-ns from homeservicemen unless the applicant’s present housing pcsition is the direct result of his service with the Armed Forces. This policy will now continue until reviewed at the end oi six months. “There are at present certain other forms of rehabilitation assistance of Which suitable homservicemen may avail themselves. This includes trade training at the Board's centres, and certain educational facilities. The Board looks forward to the time when the need for priorities will be gone, but at present the need is still with us and is likeiv to be for some tim-. In giving effect to its obligations under the Rehabilitation Act. the Board has attempted to recognise the meritorious service governed by known or presumed hazard and zone or duration of that service. It has equal resnonsibi.ity in giving all ex-servicemen and women the opportunity of returning tn civil life on terms at least as favourable as those which would nrobably have appbed as the result of their own efforts if they had not been required to serve in the Armed Forces That is the ultimate aim of all the Board's plans, and covers the claims of homeservicemen as well as all others who have served in the war just concluded.