AFTER-WAR PROBLEM.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 291, 9 December 1929, Page 19

AFTER-WAR PROBLEM.

INFIRM EX-SOM>IERS.

SUGGESTIONS TO COMMISSION.

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Saturday.

Some of the problems of meeting the needs of returned soldiers now in receipt of economic pensions or other returned soldiers who cannot obtain such relief, but who are through infirmity unable to support themselves, were dealt with by Maior-General Sir * Andreny Russell, Dominion president of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association when he gave evidence before the Soldiers' Rehabilitation Commission. "Compulsory employment of a dennite percentage of the disabled men, according to the number of employees, has been put into operation in Germany, but with little measure of success, and is reported to be more distasteful td the disabled employee than to the employer. Such a system," said Sir Andrew Russell, "would appear inapplicable to this country. An occasional case may be found in class two fit for general work where the employer understands the subject's disability and is ready to make due allowance for an impaired physique. More frequent cases may probably be found in class three, but only where work of a very light nature ia offered. Nevertheless, every endeavour should be made to find occupation for as many as possible, if only to lessen the numbers to be dealt with otherwise. By 'otherwise' it is inteded to convey either: (1) The establishment of such men on small holdings or in some private enterprise; (2) the establishment of these men in what may be termed village settlements; (3) boarding out with friends or preferably relatives may in some cases be applicable, to class three." Mr. E. Riddle, officer in charge of the repatriation branch of the State Ad-, vances Office, suggested that «in improvement in the case of the unemployable man could best bo effected by providing him with some occupational activity in his own home, under the supervision of the vocational aftercare officer. When it had been proved by experience that the subsidy scheme was inadequate to deal with present conditions and that something more was needed, it would be time enough to consider the establishment of special workshops for disabled men, farm colonies, etc. Mr. Riddle made the following suggestions: — (1) Revive the "subsidised wages" scheme for the training and employment of disabled soldiers in factories, workshops, farms and other pursuits, as inaugurated by the Discharged Soldiers' Information Department, and carried on by the Repatriation Department; (2) revive, if necessary, authority to enable an unemployable economic pensioner to acquire or build a home under the Discharged Soldiers' Settlement Act, and get authority to collect interest, sinking fund and outgoings from the economic pension; (3) appoint a chief vocational aftercare officer in Wellington and ifour district officers in Auckland, Wellington, Chrietchurch and Dunedinj ! (4) tt% up honorary committees khere

trict vocational officer in all matters pertaining to the rehabilitation of the disabled soldier and economic pensioners. The committee, said Mr. Kiddle, might consist of the following members: —The pensions doctor, the director of the technical school, the secretary of the Returned Soldiers' Association, the inspector of factories, the employer and the secretary of the trades union concerned. The three last-named would constitute the "wages" committee necessary under training. Representatives of other public bodies, say, the Patriotic Association and Employers' Association, etc., could be added. Tho commission adjourned until Monday.