PM Transcripts

F~ R PRESS RELEASE AT 6, P. M. SUNDAY MAY 1st
" EMPLOY THE IDHANDICAPPED" WEEK MIi Y 1-MY 8.
Statement by the Prime Minister, The Rt. Hon. R. G. Menzies
( The Prime Minister, Mr. bienzies, who is in London to
attend the Commonwealth Prime Ministers' Conference, sent the
following message to the Nationa. l President of the Australian
Junior Chambers of Commerce, Mr. Leslie M. Perrott, Jnr.).
A job of work is much more than a source of income it
is also a source of personal satisfaction and individual dignity,
For this, among other reasons, I commend the Australian
Junior Chambers of Commerce for their drive to " Employ the Handicapped."
In Australia about 300,000 people are now receiving
Repatriation or Social Service benefits for disabilities, and of
these more than 100,000 suffer permanent disabilities.
However, it does not follow that all of these people are
incapable of undertaking a job of work indeed, the facts quite
clearly show otherwise.
Last year the Commonwealth Employment Service found jobs in
commerce and indsutry for 8,700 physically handicapped people while,
since 1948, the Commonwealth Rehabilitation Service has trained for
employment more than 12,0 0 allegedly " hopeless invalids."
There are two factors to consider when discussing employmentof
the physically handicapped:
First, from a colding commercial point of view, payment of
benefits to this large body of people represents a substantial
charge on the public purse; while the loss of their productive
capacity represents a heavy drain on the nation's resources.
Second, and perhaps more important, is the factor I have
already mentioned: the sense of individual dignity which doing a
job gives to the doer the personal satisfaction of helping one's
self, rather tha-n having to rely on an impersonal repatriation or
social service benefit. The pursuit of happiness lies along a
self-made road, seldom along a road made by others, no matter how
good their intentions.
Employment of the physically handicapped is not a simple matter
of Governmental legislation. It depends on the moral judgment of
the community and the policies of organisations which might
employ these people.
However, the organlsation which employs or which, as a result
of this drive decides to employ, physically handicapped people has
no cause to think it is performing a mere act of charity: the
record shows quite clearly that the physically handicapped worker,
placed in a suitable job, is a productive, efficient, safetyconscious,
and loyal employee.
During " Employ the Handicapped" Week I hope the r
Ch:. mbers f Commerce will reach :. ll sections : f the community
with . n im. ginative pr-gramme of public informa. tion and education.
In doin so, in this first national venture of its kind, the
Junior Chambers will be filling a national need.
My Government commends their efforts, and the existence of
the Commonwealth Employment Service and the Commonwealth
Rehabilitation Service will ensure that their work will be
followed up.
C& N BERRA
May 1. 1960 P. M.