EMPLOYMENT OF RETURNED MEN.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXVI, Issue 7564, 7 May 1919, Page 3

EMPLOYMENT OF RETURNED MEN.

Complaints are coming from various quarters that returned soldiers cannot obtain employment except, of a temporary character. In Wellington there is not so much trouble; for this is the headquarters of affairs and troubles are therefore more speedily investigated. But even here a means of placing such men as sioremen. clerks, etc., would be welcome. The Returned Soldiers' Association at its last meeting considered the question, not specially in reference to this city, and it was thought that the employment of women would have to be dealt with. Many of the women who came in when the soldiers went away are likely to stay, and where their v/ork is satisfactory it will be difficult to put them out. The Association! secretary said that where a woman was capable of doing the work as well as a man she should receive the same pay and the Government should provide new avenues of employment for the men so displaced. He strongiy urged all the men that could to go on the land. But this is not a complete solution of the problem. The men at present unemployed are those who would never make successful settlers and none know it better than they themselves; but they say that they did not enlist as farmers, but as isuldiers, and having done that job us well as the rest, there is no rea•son why they should suffer now. A job with a pick and shovel at the end of it is also no solution from their point of view.