SUBSIDISED WAGES.

Auckland Star, Issue 265, 8 November 1929, Page 8

SUBSIDISED WAGES.

DISABLED EX-SOLDIERS.

MR. SAMSON'S ADVOCACY,

LAND WORK NOT SUITABLE

(By Telegrnpli.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. Evidence was given, before the Exsoldiers' Economic Pensions Commission by Mr, Samson, officer in charge of the Discharged Soldiers' Information Department.

He said, looking back over the various classes for industrial training, farming, beekeeping poultry-raising, horticulture, seed-growing, etc., there could be- no question, he thought, that the subsidised wages scheme was pre-eminently the backbone ,of the success achieved. He was convinced, after many disappointments, that all jobs on the land really called for healthy men. Even the lightest job meant incessant labour, early and late, and no knocking off for an hour or two if a man was not feeling well. He found, too, that wherever men were grouped, no matter how kind and sympathetic one might be, it took only one agitator round the fireside to make the whole of the little community dissatisfied and full of troubles. He was decidedly of the opinion that practically tlie only training and employment that could at this stage be economically arranged for permanetly disabled soldiers would be in certain suitable industries under a subsidised wages scheme. He suggested boot and shoe making, bag and trunk making, sox and stocking manufacturing, brushmaking, etc.

Mr. Samson said that in 'his opinion, if the Government laid down a definite policy the State Advances Office should beable forthwith to start absorbing disbe able forthwith to start absorbing disany setting up of boards or committees. The office could tackle the job with the co-operation of inspectors of factories, secretaries of patriotic soci3ties, returned soldiers' associations and the trade unions concerned. If a man could work only a few hours a week a hobby home would be the best thing for him, with an economic pension.