OUT OF WORK.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 89, 15 April 1922, Page 11

OUT OF WORK.

| EX-SOLDIERS ir_______>___>. APPEAL TO MEMBERS. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Thursday. A deputation of returned soldiers today waited on the Prime Minister urging the Government to take immediate steps to assist those returned men who are out of employment. About 30 members of the deputation were men who were without work. The Ministers present at the interview were the Hons. J. G. Coates (Public Works), G. J. Anderson (Labour), and D. H. Guthrie (Minister in Charge of the Repatriation Department). The deputation _. introduced by Mr. G. Mitchell, MP., who said three classes of men were represented: (1) Crippled men; (2) those incapable of doins other than light work; and (3) men fit for heavy work. The Prime Minister had previously received a deputation headed by General Russell in reference to disabled men. and it was thought that these would have been placed in work by now. Unfortunately they had not all been placed, and some of the men were in very bad circumstances. Mr. Mitchell urged that the Government should find employment for crippled men in some Government departments. The City Council had been approached, but had done nothing, and the speaker did not think it could do much. Returned men out of work were doubting the patriotism of the people when they could not find employment. About 200 returned =ien were out of work in Wellington at 'Present.

Mr. A. Fair said the R.S.A recognised that the Government had done a good deal for returned men, and had fitted them back into jobs where that had been possible. Speaking of disabled men. Mr. Fair said that a certain number of single men were receiving pensions sufficient "to keep the wolf from the door, and married men were receiving .pensions only sufficient to enable them to buy food. But it was not a question of pension. What was wanted for the men was work. A great deal had been done 'by- the Public Service Commissioner in helping returned men, but the speaker was thinking particularly of the Post and Telegraph Department and the Railway Department, which did not come under the Commissioner, and which might be able, to do something for soldiers. They did not want to displace any men-, but if it came to a question of dismissing one person to make room for two partially disabled men, then it should be done.

Mr. Coatee said he would communicate with the various departments under his charge, asking what proportion of the men they could absorb. They wanted to give the men a chance right away.

Mr. Anderson said that an endeavour was being made to employ as many partially incapacitated men as possible. The Prime Minister reminded the deputation that the services of a great many people in the Public Service had been dispensed with, and an endeavour was being made to keep married men employed. There waa no use in whining about the task, which was unpleasant, but the expenditure of the country had to be brought within its income, which was not the easiest thing in the world to do. They could not turn out married men with families even for Tcturned soldiers. The Government was doing the heat it could in the circumstances, and every Minister would do the best be could to find employment for the unemployed returned men. He had not the least doubt that something satisfactory would be done.