WORK FOR SOLDIERS

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 225, 21 June 1939, Page 11

WORK FOR SOLDIERS

Civil Re-establishment League ANNUAL CONFERENCE Responsibilities Said To Be Increasing That the work of 'the Soldiers’ Civil Re-establishment League will tend to increase rather than decrease for some years to come was the opinion expressed by the president of the league, Mr. J- I- Goldsmith, in opening the fifth annual conference of. delegates of tbe league m Wellington yesterday. The delegates present were Messrs. E. C. Hale, G. A. Hayden, J. Read, and C. O. Beg (members of the executive) J IV Kendall and A. Rosser (Auckland), O. L. T. Harrison and Major P. de B. Brandon (Wellington), 11. Holland and E. F. Willcox (Christchurch), H. L. Paterson and A. Dunean (Dunedin). W. E. Lcadley (Dominion organizer), and G. E. Sadd. secretary. In moving the adoption of the annual report, the president said that tbe past year had been one of considerable activity and expansion of the league’s work. ' “Though there is practically uo unemployment among fit men in tbe Dominion today.” Mr. Goldsmith said, “there are still large numbers of disabled men who have no occupations. Each year more returned soldiers are breaking down in health; men who find that the strain of the war years is taking its toll, and forcing them to give up regular employment. It appears to me, therefore, that the work of this league will tend to increase rather than decrease for some years to come.” Centennial Exhibition. The president said tbe league hoped ■this year to bring its objectives prominently before the public at the Centennial Exhibition, where they would have a stand for a Dominion display and sale of the work of disabled exservicemen. It was expected that a large number of disabled men would benefit by the sale of their products, and that others would be encouraged to take up the manufacture of useful home, handicrafts. It would be necessary for the conference to give some consideration to the question of headquarters finance. The league received an annual grant of £2OOO from the Government to carry on its work, but this amount was being exceeded in expenditure each year. It" was satisfactory to know that all the league’s activities throughout New Zealand were now self-supporting, and league headquarters considered that the time had arrived when the branches should be able to relieve it of some of its financial responsibilities. Fann Colony Scheme. The league had devoted a great deal of time to the consideration of a farm colony scheme for disabled ex-soldiers. The scheme was worked out in detail by the late Colonel Mitchell and the Dominion organizer, and representations were made to the Government to make a suitable farm at Levin available for this purpose. The Government was most sympathetic to the proposals, and he believed that the league’s request would have been acceded to if the league had been able to guarantee that all the financial requirements of tiie scheme would be met. The Canteen Funds Trust Board promised the sura of £lOOO toward tiie scheme, but unfortunately other organizations approached were unable to promise the necessary finance, and the scheme had to be abandoned. It was increasingly evident, however, that either a veterans’ home or a farm colony scheme would have to be provided in the near future for “burnt out” ex-soldiers. This had already been realized in Auckland and Christchurch, where steps had been taken to provide for this class of men. Mr. Goldsmith concluded by thanking the Minister of Railways and the General Manager of Railways for providing work for disabled soldiers at tbe railway workshops in Wellington. Mr. A. Rosser (Auckland) said that the returned soldiers in Hawke’s Bay were meeting the competitive system. In the chain shops the public were out for the cheapest article, even if it were not so good. There w.p an absolute necessity for the league, as war strain today was affecting the health of many men. Mr. E. F. Willcox (Christchurch) said the public in Christchurch; bought returned soldiers’ goods out of sentiment, which was still there. Mr. C. O. Bell (Wellington) said they had this year been able to establish a factory in 'Wellington, and they were launching out into a woodwork factory. For the first time they had actually made a profit in the Wellington shop., The motion to adopt the annual report was carried unanimously. Balancing tiie Budget. A budget was presented by headquarters, showing that £2400 would be required to run the league during the coming year. The principal items were: Salaries, £1826: travelling expenses, £2BO. On the motion of Mr. Paterson, seconded by Mr. Kendall, it was decided to circularize the branches, asking them to retrench as much as possible, with a view to reducing tiie league’s budget to £2OOO. A remit was carried, to the effect that Hie nef profits from any league activity shall be applied to paying all employees the standard rate of wages, and to reducing any outstanding liabilities to league headquarters. On the motion of Mr. Bell, it was decided that as far as profits permitted any further league activities should be paid for by branches concerned. Mr. P. E. Pattrick was re-elected as honorary auditor, and a vote of thanks was passed to him for his past valuable services. At the instance oE Mr- Willcox, it was decided to make further representations to the Postmaster-General, urging the expansion of the Scheme under which a number of disabled soldiers are engaged as part-time postmen, making city "deliveries of letters iu the mornings only. It was decided to interview the Minister of Education with a view to inducing him to reinstate the privilege previously enjoyed by disabled soldiers of receiving free vocational training at technical schools.

Ferdinand the Bull is almost as popular us Mickey Mouse; lie has made £lOO,000 for his creator, Munro Leaf, who need to work in a garage.