THE SERVICEMEN’S HOMEWARD. TREK

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 96, 19 January 1944, Page 4

THE SERVICEMEN’S HOMEWARD. TREK

There were two statements inthe cable messages published yesterday, that, although they came from places far apart, were related to thefsame subject, aspects of the same problem. Speaking at a Press conference at Canberra Mr. Fraser is reported to have said that New Zealand’s first post-war 'migration’ task would be to provide for more than'l6o,ooo ex-servicemen and women.” That was one aspect. The'other was provided by the official war correspondent with the Dominion’s forces in the Mediterranean zone; He had spent some time,with a small unit that had just come out of the line and was resting, after severe fighting. The men, the correspondent wrote, speculated on what changes they might expect when next they saw the Dominion, and he added: “Most of them just wanted to get back to their-jobs and home and be left in peace.” ' It. is obvious that the more the men can do just that, the'simpler will be the problem mentioned by the Prime Minister. Every man who eventually returns to his own home and job lessens the task of rehabilitation and in the best possible way. A movement of that character limits the necessity for plans and planning. These men know exactlv what they want to do and how to do it, and the lar.gei the percentage they form of those now serving then the more limited the “migration” problem. This feeling will be found not only among those on active service. Others, who have had to change their, occupation, or follow some course directed by wartime authorities, will also have the desire “to get back to their jobs.” Indeed, in some quarters it is believed that this desire will be sufficiently general and strong to exercise a powerful influence. Some time ago the London Economist referred to this strong desire on the part of many-men, combatants and non-combatants alike, just to get back to their homes and former jobs, and it asked these pertinent questions: Under any plan which is not totalitarian, for instance, will working people be prepared when the war is over to give up their right to choose their own job, their own place of work and their own place to live? Will not the desire of ordinary people for the ordinary freedoms of ordinary life be as much a limiting factor to any plan as their desire for security of employment and pay? This very natural desire, expressed by most of the men in that uryt behind the lines somewhere in Italy, may be one of the stabilizing factors when -the post-war problems have to be faced. " . . „ No one can estimate the extent of this homeward, migration, but the greater it is the better it will be for the Dominion. demonstrating the desire for the ordinary forms of ordinary life on the part of ex-servicemen, it should prove to be a powerful limiting factor to any plan, even those who planned would have no cause 101 disappointment. It may be that in the particular unit with which the correspondent was associated there were a number of men who had established themselves, in home, industry or coihtnerce. iheir desire can be readily understood. With the great task ended, the more ot our servicemen who “get back to their own jobs and home, and are at peace there, then the more complete will be their absorption into the life of the community. -