H.—lB

232. Thirdly, the provision of generous pension and rehabilitation allowance facilities will be continuing responsibilities for some time after the war, as will be the provision of up-to-date and adequate treatment and recreational facilities. The need to keep abreast of the most modern developments overseas in this last respect is fully appreciated. 233. The fourth field —employment —presents for the future the long-term problems of arranging the durable and appropriate placement or self-placement of the bulk of the members of the Forces, including many who may subsequently be dislodged from purely wartime positions they are at present filling ; the training of unskilled men and women for skilled or semi-skilled avocations, as well as the retraining of disabled men ; the dovetailing of service training courses with rehabilitation courses and industrial engagements ; the negotiation of preferential arrangements in various employment fields in the interests of ex-servicemen and the provision of an adequate living wage to all ex-servicemen in industry. What is already being done in these matters is discussed in Sections VIII and IX of the report, while for the future the remarks contained in Part II (Reconstruction) of the report have particular relevance. 234. In the fifth field —education —the need will be to repair the gaps in study which service has implied for most servicemen, and to provide tuition and, where justified, living allowances, to young ex-servicemen whose service has prevented them from embarking on their academic careers. With minor developments the educational facilities at present available promise to meet the need in this field without difficulty. 235. Field number six—that of farm training and settlement —will continue for some time to present the problems that at present distinguish it. These are shortage of man-power, rural housing, fertilizers, fencing, and other developmental materials and implements. 236. The seventh field—financial assistance —must also be expected to retain for some time the special problems which at present mark it. They arise not so much out of shortage of money as out of shortage of the various forms of property -houses, farms, and businesses to the purchase of which loan-moneys are applied. These shortages once overcome, and they will be largely overcome by the work of ex-servicemen themselves, the Board will be in a position to relax its priority schedule and assist any who merits it. 237. Housing and furniture together comprise the eighth field. The difficulties here combine to present a national problem of first magnitude and its solution can only be gradually effected by the augmentation of man-power and material resources and their most efficient organization. 238. The ninth field —the rehabilitation of the war disabled —will for years after the war present special treatment, training, placement, and individual readjustment problems. The treatment, training, and recreational facilities already provided or contemplated are expected, together with the selective placement of this class of ex-serviceman, to enable a good solution to the problem of the disabled man. 239. The future as it affects Maori ex-servicemen—the tenth field—holds the special difficulties of Native farm development and settlement, Native housing, Native education, and Native employment. The measures taken by the Board in conjunction with those operated by the Board of Native Affairs are expected to achieve ultimate success in each of those matters. 240. The eleventh and last aspect to be focused is the rehabilitation of at least a proportion of the several thousand women at present serving with the Forces. Thus far the rehabilitation of ex-service-women has presented few difficulties, as many of them have married and established homes. In the future, however, special problems affecting ex-servicewomen may arise. Among these will be the general attitude to the employment of women and with this the question of women's wages, and the degree of assistance that can justifiably be given in each of the fields already discussed, to women who might marry and by so doing might find it impossible or difficult to pursue the line in respect of which they may have been assisted by the Board. In this particular field negotiations are in train for the establishment of a Women's Ad visory Committee to ensure that the interests of women are not overlooked. 241. Varied, and difficult though, the problems of the future promise to be, the means of their solution are either already held or, given the co-operation of all concerned, can in the opinion of the Board be brought within reach. To the task of solving these problems the Board invites any who can assist in any way to address himself or herself accordingly. SECTION XVI.—APPRECIATION 242. Again the Board records with pleasure its appreciation of the assistance afforded it by all persons and organizations who have in any way co-operated in implementing the rehabilitation plan. 243. The members of the National Rehabilitation Council and the specialist committees of the Board have earned the warm gratitude of the Board for the most helpful manner tin which they have without exception, and often at considerable inconvenience and sacrifice of time, participated in Council and Committee deliberations. To the Chairman, Secretary, and members of local Rehabilitation Committees, Trade Training Advisory Committees, Farming Committees, and Maori Tribal Executive Committees the cordial thanks of the Board are proffered for the detailed and often onerous duties they have conscientiously performed. 244. Appreciative reference is also made to the zealous and painstaking co-operation of the Disabled Servicemen's Re-establishment League and its officers as the Board's agent in the " disabled" field. Likewise the willing assistance of agent Departments of State, including the State Advances Corporation, the Lands and Survey Department, the War Pensions Branch of the Social Security Department, and the Native Department, is recorded with full recognition of their staff and organizational difficulties. 245. Other organizations, more notably the Returned Services' Association, the New Zealand Federation of Labour, the Associated Chamber of Commerce, the Manufacturers' Federation, and the Farmers' Federation have all contributed to what degree of success has attended the Board's efforts, and in acknowledging this the Board expresses the hope that the continued co-operation of all these organizations will greatly facilitate the execution of the common task. 246. In conclusion, the Chairman and members of the Board extend their thanks to the staff of the Head and district offices of the Department for the keen and unremitting efforts with which they have pioneered its work.

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