Rehabilitation Plan

Fiji Has Excellent Soldier

rE rehabilitation of ex-Servicemen in Fiji is going steadily forward. A full-time rehabilitation officer, Lt.- Col. J. B. K. Taylor, was appointed at the beginning of February and he has prepared a report which is at present under Government consideration.

Meanwhile, all men waiting discharge are accommodated in a demobilisation camp. While there they are interviewed personally by Colonel Taylor and, where necessary, arrangements are made to find employment for them. All matters con cerning leave, pensions and medical care are attended to and educational or voca tional training is provided. Where Ser vicemen wish to settle on the land par ticulars are obtained and are noted for action when the Government policy with regard to soldier settlement is decided upon. Such men are given leave on full pay until such time as the policy is announced.

This system of fixing the ex-soldier’s future before he is finally discharged, appears to be a plan from which much larger and more highly industrialised countries could learn something.