WORK FOR BOYS WHEN WAR ENDS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 165, 15 July 1941, Page 6

WORK FOR BOYS WHEN WAR ENDS

vu.L.j WELLINGTON", this day. "The system of paying a cash bonus to returned soldiers on discharge, as adopted after the last war, .should not be again adopted, except that it is the duty of the State to see that the soldier has a reasonable amount of money to enable him to get civilian equipment, and to have the opportunity to obtain employment, or otherwise establish himself in civilian life," stated the Dominion president of the New Zealand Farmers' Union. Mr. W. W. Mulholland, in his annual report to the Dominion Conference.

He said that a better proposition, even though it might involve a much higher initial liability, would be to make a capital sum of. say £500 available to each soldier, at the discretion of a proper authority, on his taking up some enterprise. *

In mis connection it might be well to encourage groups of soldiers to take up co-operative enterprise in secondary industry and commerce provided they have the requisite skill and directive ability and reasonable prospects of success," said Mr. Mulholland. "I would urge that a period of at least two years from their discharge should elapse before they enter into any permanent undertaking. Those who did not immediately require this capital provision for use in a venture should not have the right to handle the money.

"N T or should they lose their right to it by effluxion of time. It might be held at interest for them until such time as they might require it and in the event of their not requiring it. it could be regarded as the purchase of an annuity, becoming available at a reasonably- early age." . Primary Industries Discussing rehabilitation, the president said that the first case to consider was that of the man who had suffered some permanent disability of his physical or nervous powers, or a disabilitv from which it would take a long period to recover. It would bo a grave mistake to treat these men in a way that would lead them to feel that their future life must always be a dependent one. The first objective of rehabilitation with them must be to encourage them to realise that they might live a full and normal life, and take their proper place in the life and efforts of the community, notwithstanding the disabilitv from which they might suffer ' ',

"As regards those who return fit and well there will be obvious difficulties in reabsorbing from 100,000 to 200.000 men back into civilian life. The absence of minerals makes it impossible for us to develop many kinds of secondary industry dependent upon our own resources. Tho wonderful climate which we enjoy makes it possible for us, with a minimum of effort, to produce considerably more than our own needs from our glasslands and our cultivated fields. But it is important to note that it is limited not only by the physical quantities of these "agricultural products, but also by the amount of the surplus which can be effectively marketed overseas.

"I am of opinion that, provided the Peace Treatv is wisely drawn we will be able to market our normal pre-war production, and. in addition further normal expansion. Obviously it would be unwise to expect a large expansion of the farming Industries to provide the major means for returning our discharged soldiers to civilian life. In my opinion such a policy could easily prove disastrous to the men themselves, as well as to the Dominion.

One thing above all others should be avoided—any attempt to place inexperienced men on the land as farmers. Unless they have sufficient capital to pay for their own initial mistakes, it is certain to result in hardships, and too large a proportion of failures. I must express my disagreement with the idea held in some quarters that we should proceed now to prepare lands for soldier occupants so that they may step into completely appointed farms on their discharge. To do this under present conditions is far too costlv and would result in an indebtedness attaching to the land which its production could not possibly meet. Alternative Plans "Having shown the definite limitations of agriculture in regard to the civil re-establishment of soldiers, one naturally turns, as an alternative to secondary industry." added Mr. Mulholland. "There is no reason why the processing of raw materials that are produced in this country should not be carried a further distance if I not to the length of completely manu- ; factured articles, except that ouri costs arc too high to be competitive! in world markets. It would seem i however, that the ability of second-! ary industry to re-absorb men inc«.| civilian employment is going to depend on keeping costs on a competitive basis."