WORK FOR EX-SOLDIERS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 173, 24 July 1930, Page 14

WORK FOR EX-SOLDIERS.

COMMISSIONAIRE CORPS,,

BUREAU OF EMPLOYMENT.

APPEAL TO BUSINESS FIRMS,

"When war is over there is a tendency to forget about the soldier," said General Sir George Richardson last evening, when representatives of Toe 11, the Returned Soldiers' Association and other organisations met to discuss the question of employment of ex-servicemen.

A solution to the problem, said Sir George, lay in the proposal that an exservicemen's league be organised along the lines of the British Corps of Commissionaires, whose primary object whs to provide work for partially-disabled men through a council or bureau which kept in touch with likely employers. The British corps, founded in 1859, had grown into an organisation which kept thousands of men employed as doorkeepers, watchmen and public attendants, and in other positions of trust. An appeal had been made to local employers through tho Returned Soldiers' Association and every reply so far received had expressed sympathy with the proposal. When there was a possibility of .a vacancy occurring employers would be asked to inform the council of the . corps, who would submit a list of applicants whose trustworthiness and reliability could be guaranteed. The Government would also bo urged to lend ever? assistance possible. There was no intention to displace men already employed, but employers would be asked to give preference to a guaranteed member of the corps. When the work came under a union award corresponding wage would, of course, be expected by members. A Benefit Society. The Corps of Commissionaires acted largely as a benefit society, said Colonel H. T. Dawson. Members would be asked to pay a monthly contribution, and an insurance fund, together Avith a fund "for medical services, would be organised. Membership would be granted only to these -men whose trustworthiness could be guaranteed by the corps committee. A uniform would be issued to members of the corps if desired. In regard to finance, Colonel Dawson said that assistance was available from the existing war funds and canteen funds. Ex-ser-vicemen already employed should be urged to join, and thus form a solid foundation to the corps. 600 Men Unemployed. There were over COO ex-servicemen unemployed in Auckland, said Mr. E. H. Sharp, secretary of the Returned Soldiers' Association. Eighteen employers had' already expressed sympathy with the proposal. Mr. M. H. Wynyard, chairman of the Auckland Harbour Board, said he would be glad to give every assistance to the proposal. He thought a scheme for the employment of men on small holdings as bee-keepers and poultry farmers should be devised, providing the necessary finance was available.

It was stated that the proposal would be further discussed at a. meeting of the Returned Soldiers' Association °this evening.

General Sir George Richardson was elected convener for further meetings, and with him were nominated Colonel H. T. Dawson, Colonel C. T. Major, Commander E. A. Hull, Messrs. J. H. Jackson and E. H. Sharp, with power to add to the committee five members of the Returned Soldiers' Association.