EX-SOLDIERS.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20463, 5 February 1932, Page 6

EX-SOLDIERS.

RE-ESTABLISHMENT SCHEME. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE REPORT. The Council of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce has decided that it .■annot accede to the request of the Disabled Soldiers' Civil Ke-estal>lish-ment Committee to advise employers to rrjve work to disabled men under conditions mentioned by the deputation from the committee which recently united on the Chamber's committee which heard the request.

I: was reported to last night's meeting of the Council of the Chamber that in accordance wit-li the instructions of the Council the committee received a deputation from the Disabled Soldiers' Civil Re-establishment Committee and heard their requests for the Chamber's assistance in the direction of placing as manv disabled soldiers as possible in oinpiovinent. of the Council would" recall that when a Disabled Soldiers' Rehabilitation Commission was set up the Chamber took an active interest, co-operating with the Returned Soldiers' Association and other business Associations in Christchurcli in placing before the Commission evidence in connexion with the payment of pensions and the employment of disabled soldiers. The deputation desired tho Chamber to go a step further and use its influence to facilitate the employment of disabled and partially disabled soldiers by employers taking disabled soldiers into their employ at low rates of pay, subsidised by the authorities during the time these men were learning to fit themselves into the occupation they had been giveji. Chamber's Sympathy. The deputation was advised that the committee anticipated the present Council would be just ns anxious to assist in the rehabilitation of disabled soldiers as its predecessors and recommended members of the Council to do everything possible by individual effort to achieve this end. It was considered that it was outside the province of the Chamber to make any recommendation to employers to engage disabled soldiers at low rates of pay whose wages would be subsidised whilst they were learning to fit themselves for such work, because in their opinion this would be usurping the function of the Canterbury Employers' Association, and the committee suggested that the Disabled Soldiers' Civil Re-establisliment Committee be recommended either to Tefcr this question direct to the Employers'. Association or request the Chamber to do so on their behalf.

King's National Roll. A further request by the deputation that the Chamber of Commerce should consider the advisability of establishing a King's National 801 lin New Zealand had also been examined by the Committee. The object of the King's National Roll scheme was to absorb into employment disabled exservice men and to secure as far as possible au equitable distribution of-these men amongst thie several industries. All employers were asked under the scheme to employ as many disabled men as possible and not less than an agreed percentage.

In February, 1926, ths. following resolution was passed by both Houses of Parliament in England;—" That', in the opinion of this ut is the dtoty-of the Government in. all Governmental contracts to make provision for the employment to the fullest possible extent of disabled ex-servicemen, ;and' 4o this end to confine such contracts, save: in exceptional circumstances,* o employers enrolled on the King's National Boll." "Success Unlikely.!' The above request regarding the adoption in New Zealand of : the National Scheme in force in England for the employment on a percentage basis of disabled ex-service men was carefully considered, but the Committee was of opinion, that the.success of this scheme in the Dominion at the present time would be unlikely because :

(1) Six years had elapsed since the above resolution of the English Parliament -was passed—any action for success in New Zealand should have elosely followed that in Britain.

(2) New Zealand industries generally were much smaller than. those in Great Britain, -which would make any definite engagement of disabled ex-service men on a percentage basis more difficult. (3) The difficulties being experienced in all industries and businesses to-day would prevent many employers from adopting the scheme however anxious they might bo to give it a trial. It was suggested that the Disabled Soldiers' Civil Kestablishmont Committee might consult the Employers' Association on the advisability of establishing a King's National 801 l in New Zealand as it was more competent to give an opinion than memßers of this Council as a whole. On the motion of Mr Norton Francis, seconded by Mr H. *S. E. Turner, the report was . adopted.