REPATRIATION

Evening Star, Issue 16909, 5 December 1918, Page 7

REPATRIATION

MINISTER'S PROPOSALS. fFaoM Ocr PAamuiEsraAßY Ekposiee.] WELLINGTON, December 4. In moving the second reading oi tho Repatriation Bill to-night, The Defence Minister (Sir James Allen) aaid that provision would have to bo made to deal with another 50,000 men. Everything would be done to make tho men better "fitted for re-entry into civil employment and for the provision of curative treatment and vocational treatment of tne sick and wounded men. He hoped that the present provisions would be so far extended as to enable the men to become Sited for equal usefulness as before _ the war after tho man had returned, especially fit men. They should be discharged to enable them to" take up civil employment as quickly as possible. In another Bill some provision would be made for_ men, also, who returned from the front in ac- " rordance with the length of service. This would be in the nature oi a gratuity in addition to what was proposed in the Bi.ll now before the House. Mr Hornsby said tho Bill depended almost entirely" for its success on the men who were charged with its administration. There was too much officialdom in it. The Director of Repatriation should at least bo a civilian. Mr Ell said the Bill was valuable, because it intended to show gratitude and give honoT to the men who had risked their lives in battle. The House should be asked to renew the whole question of pensions for the men who had gone out to light the battles of tho nation. Mr Downie Stewart said the measure was extremely belated, for after four years of war we were now getting for the first time a comprehensive measure for the return of soldiars to civil life. He criticised the board oi four Ministers, the result of which would simply mean that one Minister would shunt the applicants on to another. He favored one Minister being wholly responsible for the administration or the department. Most, however, would depend on the personality of the Director of Repatriation. He favored such a man as General Richardson, who was one of the discoveries of the war, and who had done mo.e in England to get our soldiers back into civil life than had been done in New Zealand. He dealt largely with the Australian scheme, which. Vie pointod out. was being liberally financed, and he hoped we would not stint our scheme from a financial point of view. The debate was carried on at some length. Mr Statham said Bill demanded sympathetic" support-. Its provision should be made applicable to airmen and sailors domiciled in New Zeakind at the outbreak ojf the war. Legitimate objection could be mads to the Ministerial board, which arrangement meant divided authority and increased responsibility of the Director. He thought a special Minister should be appointed, who would have charge of the whole work*, (Hear, hear.) He hoped that the Bill would be considerably improved in committee. December 5. Tho debate was continued after the Telegraph Office closed. The Minister of Defence began his reply at 3.15 a.m., and after he had spoken briefly on the points raised in the debate the Bill was read a second time, and an order made that it be committed at the next sitting. The House rose at 3.25 till noon to-day. A GILBERTIAN FARCE. [Per Dnitsd Press Association.] NAPIER, December 4. Speaking with regard to the Repatriation Department. Mr Batten (president of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association) said : " The Government's proposals are unsatisfactory enough, but tho cavalier manner in which Mr Massey accepts the position of chairman, and forthtrith hands it on to Mr Merries, cannot fail to cause grave concern to every thinking returned soldier. The fact that Sir Jame3 Allen refused the position of chairman of the board, although he prepared the original scheme (vide Mr Guthrie), indicates that political influences are at work. I cannot now say what action the Returned Soldiers' Association will take, but I am certain that returned soldiers will not stand by to see their comrades yet to return saeriMced on the altar of party politics. We are now reviewing the setting up of a department which, on the present, lines, is a Gilbertian farce, and I hope the people of New Zealand wull see that matters are adjusted at the first opportunity." MOVEMENT IN AUCKLAND. [Per United Peess Association] AUCKLAND, December 4. A meeting of representatives of the public bodies to-day set up a Repatriation Committer to assist returning soldiers in the matter of employment.