WORK FOR RETURNED MEN

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24567, 16 May 1945, Page 5

WORK FOR RETURNED MEN

■ * COMMENT* ON MINISTER’S ATTITUDE (PA) ■ DUNEDIN,-• May 15. The Minister of Rehabilitation (the Hon. C. F. Skinner) was recently reported to have taken organisations to task for suggesting that returning servicemen were not coming back to pick and shovel work, and indicated that this was to be the Government’s policy “even if it hurts a little.” A report to the executive of the Dunedin Returned Services’ Association last evening stated: “We view such a statement with alarm, and consider) that the Minister entirely misunderstands the feelings of returned servicemen in this matter. We claim to be as practical as the Minister, but firmly set our faces against schemes requiring labouring work only that will last for years. “That is not rehabilitation, and only indicates that the Government is afraid of the future when the bulk of the servicemen return, and intends to have big schemes available to absorb them in employment. Overseas service doee not debar a man from doing such work as Mr Skinner tries to imply, and we are fully in accord with men linking up with reputable contractors or Government works of a national character, where they can obtain steady work of the nature they desire, but we consider service merits a better outlook than that offered by the Minister.”