MEN TO INDUSTRY

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 97, 21 October 1936, Page 7

MEN TO INDUSTRY

PLACEMENT SERVICE

SPLENDID RESULTS

"The public generally will by now have become fairly familiar with the objects of the State placement service and have noted the growing success of its operations. Many of the men placed in private employment have been thus rehabilitated after up to five years on relief, but the benefit to such men and their dependants can be realised only by those who have themselves been compelled to reduce their standard of living from the comparative affluence ! of, say, 1929, to the meagre relief existence of 1930-35," said the Controller of Employment, -Mr. A. J. Ridler, in a statement today. "Many other benefits created or promoted by the placement service are not so obvious," he said, "but will be of intense interest to those who have at heart the general welfare of the community. Up to September 26 the service secured the following placements: Permanent, 4251; casual, 1731; temporary, 2213; total, 8195. These figures, however, depict only the minimum result. It may be accepted as correct that 100 men placed in productive work cause the absorption of an additional 108 men in non-productive or only partially-productive work. Census figures show that on an average each employed man supports 1.761 dependants. CREDIT FOR SERVICE. "The story is yet only partly told, foci the service should receive some credit for the benefits to the individuals (and their dependants) whose employment was obtained only indirctly through the service. Such cases include those who, though introduced by a placement officer, were initially unsuccessful, but later were offered positions solely by reason of the prior meeting. There are also many cases where a placement officer is successful in placing a man in casual employment, but later expansion of ,business results in the man being again absorbed in a temporary or permanent capacity "It is expected that every unemployed man will himself endeavour to secure appointment, but often the 1 search is haphazard and results in failure. The "placement officer meets cases of this nature by planning the man's search and giving him helpful advice regarding the best method to adopt in seating his case to a prospective em-, pioyer. "The effect of being in work on themen themselves and their wives is in many cases remarkable. Their vastlyimproved physical condition and the absence of worry have caused a psy-chological-regeneration. There is a renewal- of hope of a future free from anxiety over financial matters. Their mental reaction is expressed in their realisation that they now are tangible assetis in the community, and able to meet; on an even social plane, those neighbours and friends who were more fortunate during the depression. REINSTATING TRADESMEN. "Another of the beneficial results is that thousands of tradesmen, whose skill has for years been submerged in some unsuitable and unprofitable occupation and who appeared to be fated to continue endlessly in such work, had been reinstated in employment where their trained brains and hands can produce something worth while and give them back their self-respecl. The community undoubtedly benefit from this restoration to industry of these skilled artisans. Tradespeople of all varieties probably could lend emphasis to the claim that the community is benefiting 'extensively by the circulation of wages earned by, the 8195 men who to September 26 >vere beneficiaries of the service. "One of the most important benefits is the placement in normal private employment of disabled men who would probably never have secured employment had it not been for the sympathy and advocacy, of placement officers—the permanent placement at £300 per annum of a man doomed never to walk without the aid of two sticks; of a onearmed man in a sawmill, and of a onearmed man as a carpenter, may be quoted as examples. "The repercussions of the operations of the service are therefore without limit—they are reflected in every phase of human activity in the Dominion, and while it continues necessary for the service to carry omits great work of Industrial rehabilitation, there will be constant endeavour to maintain its present efficiency." '