WORK FOR SOLDIERS

Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 40, 15 August 1918, Page 4

WORK FOR SOLDIERS

COMPLAINTS OF DIFFICULTIES

D.S.I. DEPARTMENT.

The following paragraph, which appeared recently in an Auckland papor, is being republished by the press in other districts: —

"Discharged soldiers aa-e finding difficulty in procuring employment in Auckland, and the question of providing occupation for them is assuming proportions which are considered to carry the proMwri to a scale beyond the scopo of the local Employment"Ciinimttee. The Mayor of Auckland stated las-t week th»? while, the committee had done, and was doing, all that was possible, is was a question whether the matter should not bo placed on a- wider basis, and a special repatriation committee appointed, representing both citizens and returned soldiers. Mr. Ghmson said he also thought that the retention in Government Departments of superannuated Civil Servants, who hud returned to duty for the war period, should be reconsider-,, ed by tho Government, now that ex-sol-diers were availably and that employers generally should regard it as a national duty, as well as a moral obligation, to make room for men who were in their service prior to enrolment. '

The Minister (the Hon. D. H. Guthrie). stated to-day that the Auckland situation had received the attention ol the Discharged Soldiers' Information Department, and arrangements were being made to strengthen the committee there. Mr. Samson (officer-in-charge of the D.S.I. Department) would visit Auckland probably next week.

Mr. Guthrie added that the Department's forty voluntary committees throughout ISfew Zealand, were working enthusiastically. TJe did not know of any officer in any Department who was doing better work than Mr. Samson. Nothing was^too small for his notice, and attention was given as quickly as possible to every case.

The Minister remarked that the difficulty in Auckland was similar to one that had been observed elsewhere. There was a certain proportion of men in any large town who would not take the work offered to them, and these persons were inclined to'grumble and make trouble.