REPATRIATION BOARD.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16470, 13 March 1919, Page 8

REPATRIATION BOARD.

"WEEKLY MEETIN G. V The Canterbury Repatriation Board met last evening. Present Messrs Goss (in the chair), J. A. Clarke, F. 'W • Hobbs' E J. Howard. J. D. Millton, i>. Jones, F. T. Eldridge, W. E. Leadley, C. H. Hewlett, N. B. McCallum, and H. S. J. Goodman. In reply to the Board's letter as to •whether they were willing to reinstate returned soldiers "\vlio . left ill© con\pany's service for military duty, in their old positions, tho Kaiapoi "\V collcn Company, Ltd., wrote stating that over ono hundred of their employees took on military work, and quito a number had Teturned. So far the company hact been able to meet the situation, and would as far as possible continue to do so, but the difficulty with the company was not so much on their part as with the men, especially the younger ones, many of whom were not prepared to take up their old positions except at a very serious advance in salary, and, of course, however willing they were, they were quite unable to give anything like adequate return. There was, however, no reason why rapid promotion should not be obtained if the men would npp]v themselves diligently to their work. The company further wrote suggesting for the consideration of the Board that the authorities should ascertain from soldiers at an early date, and before their arrival in the Dominion, their desire or otherwise to re-enter their'previous occupations. In allsuch. cases such desires should be in "writing, giving name of and where and •with-whom he was previously employed. If this were done,' and thereby reasonable time given to employers td readjust) their affairs so as to make room for the returning soldier, a good deal of frictioto; would be avoided, especially in such; cases where tho services of an equally qualified person were being \ised in the position that the soldier previously oc-' cupied. They fully admitted the claims of the soldier, but the actual dismissal! of .the substitute should be and! could in most cases be avoided, if rea- [ eonable time was available.

The first letter was referred to the Information Committee and the second to the Vocational Committee.

The Board received from the Director of Repatriation oopies of two reports which the Secretary of Labour had rew ceived from his Westport agent (Mr T. Fairhall) with reference to parties of returned soldiers working coal at Seddonville and Mofcihinui. The letters were referred to the Industrial Committee.

Messrs Kempthorne, Prosser and Co. wrote stating that they expected in the near future to commence the erection of large acid and superphosphate works at Hornby, near Cnristchurch. It would probably bo eighteen months before the works were completed. Needless to say, they wore at all times anxious to do everything possible to give returned soldiers employment. Mr C. H. Hewlett, on behalf of the Employment Committee, reported that, in order to ascertain correctly, applicants' fitness or otherwise for' certain, positions, tho assistance of a medical man was urgently required, and the Board was recommended to ask that ono be appointed at once. There were 179 applications for employment on March Sth, and employment had been found-for eight. The report was adopted.