RETURNED MEN.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 127, 29 May 1918, Page 6

RETURNED MEN.

QUESTION OF REPATRIATION. a big problem: The question of finding employment for returned soldiers after the war formed the subject of considerable discussion at | the conference of the Returned Soldiers' j Association yesterday afternoon. Com- j plaint woe made by delegates that the preeent Government system was not as satisfactory as could be desired, the delegates from Chrietchurch complaining strongly of the bureau in that centre. It was stated that many employers preferred to go to the Returned Soldiers' Association when they wished to employ a man, and that returned men also preferred to go to their own association. The association had the records of the men, and ■was in a better position than the Government to find them suitable employment. Mr. Batten (Wellington) moved/that patriotic societies' funds should be made available on loan for suitable returned soldiers to enable them to establish themselves in business. He stated that the patriotic funds were collected for sick and wounded soldiers. Later they were applied to dependents, to which no returned soldier took exception. But the question was had any constructive scheme been adopted for the returned men? Personally, he thought not. Mr. Fox eaid they had been told in Wellington that patriotic funda had not been given for the purpose of helping returned soldiers. If this was so the association had no say as to the manner of the disposal of these funds. Mr. V. J. Lamer, who wae present by invitation, stated that the money had to be administered in accordance with the purpose for which it had been collected. Mr. Bedford pointed out that the man who went to work ac soon as possible, and endeavoured to re-establish himself, was the man who should be assisted. Mr. Hoare said that the funda held by patriotic societies were held for all returned soldiers, and the trouble wae that no one could cay how many men were comin" back. This was well enough, 'but°the fact remained that now after three years of war the societies were still holding these funds. A suitable returned man ought to be assisted to go into business if he so deeired, instead of going on the land. Mr. Andrews eaid they were overlooking the fact that it was the duty of the Government to see that every returned man made good, and that the men were re-established as soon as possible. The president said his personal feeling was that these funds should be properly maintained until peace was proclaimed. That would be the time to discuss the question of parcelling the money out. Why should the patriotic societies do the work of the Government? It had to be borne in mind that there were six times ac many men to return as had returned up to the preeent. If the patriotic societies started lending out sums they would find themselves absolutely without a neat-egg for the men still to come back. Mr. Haycock pointed out the lack of uniformity in the grants from the various patriotic societies throughout New Zealand. Mr. Melling mentioned the good relationship existing between the Auckland Patriotic Association and the returned soldiers. Not once, he said, had a request from the Association been refused. Mr. Lamer, in reply, said he would like to make it quite clear that Auckland did not penalise thrifty men. It was recognised that they were the men ■who should be assisted. With regard to the question of repatriation, they had to remember that the funds of societies would go only a small way towards this object. Further, they would only be tinkering with a scheme which it was the duty of the Government to carry out. The scheme was much bigger than many people realised. The question of uniformity of allowances was one that had been discussed at conference. He was strongly in favour of euch a scheme, and would like to ccc a uniform rate and a uniform policy. The main policy of the platform of the Association was to relieve distress. A motion was finally carried that in reference to the proposed Repatriation Department a special employment bureau should be created in each of the principal centres, the work to be carried out by the local secretaries of the various associations, and paid for by the Government. The resolution was subsequently placed before the Hon. D. H. Guthrie, Minister in Charge of the Discharged' Soldiers' Information Department, who in reply stated while he. would not be prepared to hand the control of the Department over to the Returned Soldiers' Association, he would be quite prepared to accept the nominees of the Association, provided they were euitable men-