GUARANTEE FOR SOLDIERS

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23111, 29 August 1940, Page 8

GUARANTEE FOR SOLDIERS

WORK AND WAGES ON RETURN DISCUSSION ON MR LEE’S BILL [From Our Parliamentary Reporter.! WELLINGTON, August 28. The Soldiers’ Guarantee Bill, a private measure sponsored by Mr J. A. Lee (Democratic Labour, Grey Lynn), and described as "an act to grant to soldiers serving abroad in the present war witli Germany, and to the dependants of such soldiers, reasonable conditions of living on return to New Zealand or on the death of the soldier as the case may be,” was briefly discussed in the House to-day. The Prime Minister (the Rl. Hon. P. Fraser) pointed out that the measure involved an appropriation. and would therefore be ruled out of order by Mr Speaker. It was recognised, however, that it dealt with the future of soldiers, and in those circumstances he thought the House might permit a short discussion to lake place on the measure. He suggested that Mr Lee and one speaker from each of the Government and Opposition sides should lake part if they desired. Moving the second reading, Mr Lee expressed appreciation of the Prime Minister’s altitude toward discussion on the measure, and said it had been introduced so that some consideration could be given to the question of rehabilitation after the war. "We have to study as never before,” said Mr Lee, “how the consumption of Ihe output of the machines now producing for the war is going to become the consumption of society in peace, and how, in the period following demobilisation of the army, to keep productive society geared up to its maximum. If we do not think about these problems before the time arrives, not only may the soldier have great hardship inflicted on him, but society may, too,’’ Mr Lee said. There was no better way to do this than to guarantee extra purchasing power to the soldiers when they were demobilised. For this reason the bill sought to guarantee a soldier employment for no fewer than live years after his return to the Dominion at standard rates of pay, or at not less than £5 a week. The bill proposed that the basic soldiers’ pension should- be subject to periodic and automatic review in consonance with any increase in the cost of living, and improvements in general living standards. The 5 per cent, wages increase, the 5 per cent, increase in purchasing power, and the rising standard of prices tended to leave the soldier pensioner in a worse position. If a worker in industry was to have periodic increases, that should apply just the same to the soldier. “The subject of rehabilitation is one that we are all definitely and sympathetically interested in," said the Leader of the Opposition (the Hon. A. Hamilton). It was up to everyone to see that the best was done lor the soldiers on their return. Mr Hamilton said ihaL all wwuld agree that the question of the rehabilitation of the soldiers was worth studying, the experience of rehabilitation alter the last war suggested that there was perhaps scope for an improvement on the methods adopted on that occasion. “There is no doubt that the war creates a great disturbance so far as the ordinary vocations of the people aie concerned,” said Mr Hamilton. fhe Government has practically passed legislation saying that a soldier is entitled on his return from the war to the position he occupied before he went away. I think that will be very difficult m practice,” Mr Hamilton said that although the subject matter of the “ill was well worth discussion, he doubted if Mr Lee’s proposal was the solution of the problem. He did not think it was One of Mr Lee’s experience and ability should be able to formulate a practicable scheme. . Mr Lee; I believe m the principle in this bill, and will put it into operation if I have the opportunity. Mr Hamilton; I thought the member for Grey Lynn could formulate a netter bill than the measure he has mi.rodUMrdLee. It is not a bad start. ACTION ALREADY TAKEN report discussed by CABINET WELLINGTON. August 28. An outline of the measures which had been taken by the Government to ulan for the rehabilitation of soldiers on the termination of the war was given by the Prime Minister (Hie RlHon. P. Fraser), on the Soldiers Guarantee Bill, promoted by Mr J. A. Lee (Democratic Labour, Grey Lynn),, m the House this evening. The subject was an important one, Mr Fraser said, and would receive the increasing attention of the House The war had hardly broken out before members considered it was due to the soldiers who were volunteering to make the fullest provision for them after the termination of their services, Mr Fraser said. There was general agreement, not only in the House, but also in the country, on the importance of that. “Already the Government has had a report on the question of rehabilitation,” Mr Fraser said. Ibis was a review of what was done in this and other countries after the last war. That is only a starling point. A committee of the Cabinet was set up some lime ago to go into the question, and to outline the problems that had v to be considered. , “To the limit pf the resources of the country, our responsibility is to make adequate provision for the men and their families,” the Prime Minister said. “That is an axiom with us all. What we can do will depend upon the production of the country at the time. Opposition members: Hear, hear. Mr Fraser: I am expressing something that everybody also agrees with. The more tha.t is produced, it is axiomatic the better the provision that can be made. There is no section of the community that has a greater claim upon the country as a whole than the Minister said that all members were alive to their responsibilities. The question was hovy the job would be done efficiently and adequately, so that the men who had gone away would feel that their value had been recognised. Ample opportunity would be given the House for full discussion on the question later on.