REHABILITATION WORK

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 89, Issue 263, 7 November 1945, Page 5

REHABILITATION WORK

DEBATE IN THE HOUSE PROBLEM OF HOUSES STRESSED (P.A.) Parliament Bldgs., Nov. 6. In the House of Representatives to-, day, discussing the Rehabilitation Department vote of £218,459; Mr. T. Maedonald (Opp., Mataura) said it was realised that there was a great amount of work the department had to cope with, but did the Minister think that the staff increase from 207 to 310 was adequate for the work ahead? He referred to the appointments of Mr. Tripp and Mr. Barrington to the Council of Rehabilitation Board and described them as being most efficient acquisitions to the department. Mr. Macdonald considered there should be a strengthened liaison between the department and local committees. Mr. J. T. Watts (Opp., Riccarton) asked what was the position regarding the three months' rehabilitation pay granted ex-servicemen while they were seeking a job? Mr. K. J. Holyoake (Opp., Pahiatua) said that the people of New Zealand would be disappointed to learn that in connection with housing loans one State department was a monopolist agent for another State' department. It was compulsory for all insurance to be placed With the State Fire Department. Every taxpayer was making a contribution to rehabilitation ioans, and he thought men who obtained a loan could at least place their insurance where thev desired.

Mr. F. Hackett (Govt., Grey Lynn) considered it was time the Rehabilitation Department thought of further nlans for decentralisation, and time that conditions for eligibility for loans were consolidated and made as concise as possible. He thanked the Prime Minister, Mr. Skinner, the director, and the Rehabilitation Department generally, for the service they had given to blinded servicemen, and suggested some housing priority for the wives and children of those men concerned.

Mr. A. S. Sutherland (Opp., Haurakl) said the department’s decentralisation plans had been a success, and urged an extension. He considered the local rehabilitation committees had b- en well tried out and he thought the t ine had come when they could be Slven more authority. The housing ■ uation was desperate so far as exsc.wlcemen were concerned, “and we ■ll have to speed things up a bit.” ■ t was time the Minister and the Gov- ; nment decided on a scheme to cut .cut all non-essential buildings and fo icentrate on homes for ex-service-nun. It had been said that If the ■ iber used for defence buildings was Used for homes, 37,000 could be ilt. Could that not be done?

dr. McCombs (Govt., Lyttelton): A of it has. Ar. Sutherland also said it was time ■ furniture loan of £lOO to ex-ser-emen was Increased. ’he Minister, Mr. Skinner, replying references made to the appointnts of Messrs. Tripp and Barrlng- , said both had already made constable contributions to rehabilitai matters generally. Replying to er points raised, he said the detment was not yet sufficiently ■fed to carry out the work It had b< n called on to do. He agreed that local rehabilitation committees •e working satisfactorily. He said t in all land districts, except two, cutive committees had been set up h power to authorise loans. A of decentralisation was being tinued. and he hoped that every ast of rehabilitation would be detralised eventually. isrilKMlncr rehnbtHtatton <dlowe, Mr. Skinner said this was not liable to men if work was avail- • for them. Dealing with housing is and the matter of insurance, the ister said that the principle had a in force so far as the State Adces was concerned for a long time, the department was simply coning that process. Consolidation '.he eligibility conditions was in ?ress. Increased housing allo- - ons for ex-servicemen was a matwhich had been discussed with the eminent, and discussions were pressing now, but no decision had been reached. r. W. S. Goosman (Opp., Waikato) :ired if there had been an inquiries ■ ssponse to the department’s circuloncerning group farming “on the dan system.” r. Skinner: None at all. iir. Goosman: lam very glad to it.

I ?• E. L. Cullen (Govt., Hawke’s ■ ■ urged better accommodation for Rehabilitation Department’s hpad J staff. In their present building, dd, some members of the staff had o outside their office to put on coat, and if they sneezed they the window open. Mr. Cullen >ai'l It was time the occupants of some le more palatial buildings near ament House vacated their ters in favour of the Rehablll--3 Department, which was the important department in New ind to-day. . H. T. Morton (Opp.. Waitemnta) the case of a man 42 years of who had been refused a Crown of a farming property on the id that he was too old. The man erved four year 4 with the division •eece and Crete, and every battle ught in North Africa. He was fit. Mr. Morton asked at what lid a man'become too old to gu J ing? . Macdonald asked for a definition he department’s policy toward antile firms, which, despite all had been said in the House, were a good job and had greatly as--1 ' , 1 ex-servicemen. Mr. Macdonald (i - d that when a large property was ‘ i over and not immediately subed Its business should remain in ■lands of the firm which had preJy handled It, and not, as In the I'h-si nee he cited, be transferred to • her firm. If the co-operation of : ? firms was to be sought, perhaps ' - policy could be revised. ’ '. Skinner said no man was coned too old to take up farming if 'fo iready had had the experience of ■ ’t life. He knew a dozen men of ; or more, who had been granted i to take up farming. It was poshowever, that the applicant luul C- ■ told that at 42 he was too old to tear , farming from scratch if he had irevlously been a farmer. . T. P. Palkea (Govt., Northern ‘ 'D asked if the Minister would ; der the appointments of Maori isentatives to local rehabilitation ; nittees. He said a Maori ex-ser- ' nan had a hard job when he came e a committee, and had to fight ’wn case. That was harder for than fighting tne Germans, e vote was passed.