RECRUITING

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 126, 29 May 1915, Page 9

RECRUITING

TO TRB EDITOR. Sit,— The present difficulty in obtaining recruits is flue in a considerable measure to the fact that some of our largest employers are refusing to grant leave of absence to employees on thr ground that business convenience does not permit of further curtailment of staffs. Any member of the staff, therefore, who enlists forfeits his position. Sevoral of the banks, it is freely stated, have taken up this attitude, as well at many of our leading oommeroial houses. Gorman supremacy would be so unthinkably terrible, if we failed in this war, that justification of such a shortsighted policy iB impossible. The needs of th© Empire must bo paramount to all selfish considerations, and tho Government should demand that leave of absence to suitable men shall not bo withheld by any ■employer. At tho same time, it is only fair to say that many firms and institutions have behaved very gonerously to em,ployeea who have enlisted, and by paying some proportion of their salaries during thoir absence have set a good example oven to the Government, our very largest employes*, which no* stops the salary of every employee the moment he enlist*. This is not to be grumbled at in the case of single men, but now thai the call has

mmc for merned men, it seems only right that the Government should supply the means whereby the families of married employees who enlist may be provided for during tho absence of the bread-winner. Tho Government might well consider tho question of paying married recruits from the Government sen-ice their presrnt salaries. Tho extra cost would probably not be great, as the work of absent men can in many cases be carried on temporarily by women, whose salaries will bo considerably lower than the officers they replace. Tho example would be an excellent one for private employers to follow. — I am, etc.. TO TRENTHAM 26th May, 1915.