H.—lB

The following table indicates the general progress so far reached in the 3,568 specially recorded cases: —

l_ I I 1 It has been the experience of the Rehabilitation Service that men in the large psychiatric class have been established in civil life without great difficulty, but generally after periods of more or less prolonged recuperation, during which the friendly interest and advice of the Rehabilitation Officer have usually been much appreciated. A cross-section study carried out by the Service in psychiatric cases of returned servicemen revealed that between the date of return and the date of satisfactory establishment an average recuperating and readjustment period of approximately thirty weeks was absorbed. In similar cases of men demobilized from camps in New Zealand only, the period of recuperation and readjustment has tended to be very much shorter. Particular attention has been paid to the cases of amputee ex-servicemen, and in August, 1942, the Board purchased the McKay Artificial Limb Factory, which has since been operated on behalf of the Board by the Disabled Servicemen's Re-establishment League. Occupational Therapy. —In the larger hospitals of the Dominion, and especially at the Convalescent Hospital in Rotoru'a, professional occupational-therapy tuition has been imparted to seriously disabled men. This tuition has been valuable in hastening the re-education of the nervous and muscular systems of the men in question and also in readjusting their mental outlook. The work commenced by the therapy course in hospital has been carried on in a broader sense in recuperative employment especially provided by the Disabled Servicemen's League or located by the Rehabilitation Officer. It has been reported that the keenness of the ex-servicemen taking these courses has been remarkable and that the training given has had a most beneficial effect. Social Provision. —It has been found that the friendly interest of the Rehabilitation Officer, the local representative of the Disabled Servicemen's Re-establishment League, or the War Amputees' or other special organization has been of great value in enabling the disabled man to readjust himself to civil life. This aspect will be given even closer attention at the Vocational Training and Welfare Centres that are to be operated by the Disabled Servicemen's Re-establishment League, dealt with subsequently. Employment. —Particular attention has been paid to the provision of suitable long-term as well as recuperative employment to disabled men. Special recreational employment schemes are being inaugurated in co-operation with local bodies as the need arises. At Ocean Beach a typical recreational scheme employing a number of psychiatric ex-servicemen is being operated in co-operation with the Domain Board, and the local psychiatrist of the Mental Hospitals Department. Tn the administration of such schemes, the Rehabilitation Service will work in close association with medical practitioners where this is necessary. Particular regard has been paid by the Board to the importance of placing disabled men in permanent worthwhile openings in industry itself, as the view is taken that, if the effort is made, industry can absorb large numbers of men suffering from various disabilities. To this end the Board has in hand a survey of industry with a view to ascertaining the openings most suited to variously disabled men, and when this has been completed employers will be urged to reserve, wherever feasible, work performable by disabled ex-servicemen for such men. The Board does not doubt that the fullest co-operation will be offered by employers generally. In addition, a survey of positions in the various State services is being undertaken, anil special consideration is henceforth to be given to the reservation of suitable positions for seriously disabled ex-servicemen. The Disabled Servicemen's Re-establishment League Hitherto known as the Disabled Soldiers' Civil Re-establishment League, the Disabled Servicemen's Re-establishment League assumed its present name in 1941, when it also altered its constitution to enable it to extend assistance to disabled ex-servicemen from the present war. The League, which has since its inception been assisted by annual Government grant, was in 1942 appointed by the Rehabilitation Board to act as its agent in providing trade and occupational training and, where necessary, employment for seriously disabled ex-servicemen from the present war. Men in this class are transferred to the care of the League for training and employment. If they subsequently become placeable in suitable openings in industry, they are established therein.

16

_ , ~ Demobilized from Camps in Returned ex'-Serviceman. New Zealand . Class of Disability. Working or Working or otherwise Recuperating. otherwise Recuperating. i established. established. Psychiatric .. .. ..." .. 676 358 831 237 Amputee — Limbs .. 35 108 6 7 Digital 26 9 22 9 Tuberculosis .. .. .. .. 42 76 261 114 Other chest complaints ...... 33 1 19 8 Arms, hands, and shoulders .. .. 41 25 17 9 Thighs, legs, and feet .. .. ... 53 28 8 3 Sight 31 13 11 5 Hearing .. .. .. .. 37 8 15 4 Abdominal .. .. .. .. 24 13 14 2 Cardiac .. .. .. .. 21 4 7 2 Head wounds . . . . .. .. 9 2 2 Multiple wounds .. .. .. 65 22 Miscellaneous .. .. .. .. 97 29 56 11 Totals 1,190 696 1,269 413