POST-WAR WORK

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23914, 5 April 1943, Page 3

POST-WAR WORK

PROVISION FOR SOLDIERS IN CANADA OTTAWA. March 11. Across Canada public authorities are exploring ways and means of finding post-war work for the returned man. In both the Senate and the House of Commons a committee has been appointed to study national schemes of social and health insurance. Before the Reconstruction and Re-establishment Committee of the House of Commons to-day the Minister of Pensions and National Health (Mr I. A. Mackenzie) urged that- every community, should organise citizens’ committees to assist discharged members of the forces on their return to civilian life. The conservation of Canada’s great wealth in natural resources as a means to rehabilitation of the war veteran was considered at a meeting of the Dominion Command of the Canadian Legion last night which was attended by four members of the Cabinet and a large body of members of Parliament. Dr. R. C. Wallace. Principal of Queen’s University, Kingston, suggested a widespread survey of Canada’s forest wealth as the first step. Such a survey was a job which could be undertaken by Canada’s returned airmen., Other means suggested were: Research work similar to that undertaken by Russia, the opening up of roads to help lumbermen, the training and financing of prospectors in the new technique of locating ore, rural electrification, and restocking of wild -life. The Nova Scotia Government proposes to pave every travelled highway in the province after the war. The Minister of Highways in Ontario is asking municipalities throughout the province to name committees charged with preparing lists of post-war public works. Businessmen’s organisations are similarly active. The Canadian Chamber of Commerce, through its national headquarters in Montreal, is urging boards of trade and chambers of commerce throughout the Dominion to lead the way in forming citizens’ committees on post-war reconstruction. A committee of the heavy industries is being formed to formulate plans. Points listed for preliminary investigation include: how to convert new war plants to peace-time use, how to get the maximum use and value from new techniques and fabrics developed during the war, how to prevent the destruction of building materials on the market by indiscriminate dumping of salvage material from disused war building, the establishment of airports, modernisation of combustion and heating plants, underground transit, elimination of level crossings, encouragement of immigration, land settlement, parks, playgrounds, and reservation projects.