WORK FOR RETURNED SOLDIERS

Evening Star, Issue 22687, 29 June 1937, Page 14

WORK FOR RETURNED SOLDIERS

DIFFICULTIES DISCUSSED CIVIL RE-ESTABLISHMENT LEAGI'Z CONFERENCE [Per United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, June 28. “ Some hoys to-day are in the same position as the returned soldiers who came back from tho war to find themselves out of industry because of age and lack of training,” said tho Minister of Defence (the Hon. F. Jones) , at the annual meeting of tho Soldiers’ Civil lie-establishment League to-day, when discussing the difficulties facing tho league in its efforts to obtain employment for returned men in trades and industries. He stressed tho benefits which men placed in employment received from the psychological aspect, and’ complimented the league on its work generally. A presentation was made by Mr Jones to the retiring chairman (Major J. R. Kirk), who has held this position since the incorporation of the league in 1935. Major Kirk said the scheme for placing men in industries was becoming more difficult, because the men were getting older every day, and competition from younger men was in many instances too keen. The limitations of the factories established for the men were commented on by Major-general Sir George Richardson. The work provided, ho said, made a great difference to the men psychologically, and gave them a new outlook on life, but they had not been able to pass the men on to outside factories. “To place men in permanent positions is the hardest task,” he said. The chairman of the Christchurch Branch Committee (Mr H. B. Burdeidn) spoke of the methods adopted in Ids centre for absorbing men into industries. The branch worked in cooperation with the labour unions concerned, and they had always been helpful. He suggested that war funds, which were at present “ frozen ” to a large extent in bricks and mortar, be liquidated and applied more directly to tho relief of returned soldiers’ needs. The work of the Christchurch branch, ho said, had saved the Government £3,000 in pensions. A remit suggesting the appointment of an officer to organise and extend the work of the league throughout the Dominion -was defeated.

It was decided to widen the scope of the league to include ex-members of His Majesty’s forces other than New Zealanders, who Served in the Great War. The meeting expressed appreciation of the Government’s efforts to provide full-time employment at standard rates of pay for fit ex-servicemen, and strongly urged that the claims of the disabled soldiers should not he overlooked in the Government’s employment programme. Representations are to be made- to the Minister of Education (the Hon. P. Fraser) to reinstate the privilege previhusly enjoyed by disabled soldiers of receiving free vocational training at technical schools. Information regarding schemes in operation for the reestablishment of disabled ex-service-men in other countries is to he sought, and .'any information received is to he handed on to the provincial committees.