UNEMPLOYED RECRUITS

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 151, 28 June 1915, Page 8

UNEMPLOYED RECRUITS

♦ —• MAYOR'S DIFFICULT WORK. Though repeated warnings have been issued by the responsible authorities that men who have enlisted should not leave work until they are called up numbers continue to come to Wellington. The task of providing for them has fallen •upon the shoulders of the Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke), who has been tried most severely. To-day a Post reporter obtained a statement from Mr. Luke as to his position in this matter. The Mayor stated that there had been a continual stream of men coming" to Wellington desiring to go into camp. He agreed with what the Minister of Defence hadstated that many of these had been out of employment and had not thrown up their work. To deal with them had been a difficulty for some time past. The men came from other districts where they had enlisted and passed the doctor. "Speaking as a layman," said Mr. Luke, "my opinion is that some of these men would have very little chance of' getting into camp. I know this will be looked upon as a reflection vipon some of the work of the_ authorities in outlying parts in making it possible for such men to come to Wellington. As I understand it, these men have to be passed as medically fit in the district from which they come. If they have passed such a medical examination some of them have deteriorated considerably since passing. I regret that there has not been some concern as to what is to become of these men after they come to Wellington. Men in authority in other parts_ must know from the repeated warnings by the Minister that men cannot be admitted to camp until they are called up. Hitherto the duty of seeing these men provided for in Wellington has rested upon me and I have discharged the duty, but I am determined to do so no longer. There are numbers of married men in Wellington waiting for work. I have made up my mind that every man that comes to see me now. having left his work or come from unemployment and having a written communication to the effect that ■he has enlisted, must report himself to the member of Parliament representing the district from which he comes. In other words, I intend to invoke the co* operation of members of Parliament now that they arc in Wellington."

Two correspondents have written to The Post asking if arrangements can bp made by which our soldiers at the front. Cairo, and Samoa, may be regularly and freely supplied with newspapers. _ We may mention that we have been in correspondence with the Defence Department on this subject for some days past, with the result that the Department has undertaken to collect parcels of papers made ready in this office, and will transmit them to the various camps abroad. It is not unlikely that- the Defence authorities will be able to offer similar facilities to the' newspaper offices in other centres. Meanwhile our metropolitan contemporaries will, of course, enjoy the same facilities as The Post. Besides daily copies of The Post, the many exchanges that reach us will, as soon as possible after receipt, be forwarded. The new school in Britomart-street was opened this morning, when 218 chiU dren were enrolled by Mr. F. Bennett, headmaster. The formal opening will take place at 11 a.m., to-morrow. Amongst the speakers will be the Hon. ' J. Allen, Mini»t«r of Education,,