N.Z. EMPLOYERS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21582, 8 December 1944, Page 7

N.Z. EMPLOYERS

PROFIT MOTIVE ABSENT HELP FOR "SERVICEMEN deep INTEREST TAKEN (P.R.) WELLINGTON, Dec. ff. The deep interest taken by industrialists in the rehabilitation of returned servicemen tvas stressed by Mr. E. P. Adermnn (Opp. New Plymouth), in the House of Representatives yesterday, speaking in the second reading debate on the Land and Income Tax Amendment Bill. He was replying to a charge by Mr. C. li. Chapman (Govt, Wellington North), that private enterprise was only interested in making profits. Mr. Aderman said be had recently visited many industrial concerns in Auckland and 'Christchurch and, had lie harboured any suspicion that they, were actuated solely by the profit motive, his contact with these industries would have removed any such feeling. He found that employers were engaging men who had not previously been employed by them. Some were making room for disabled men. One factory had placed blind servicemen on its slall' ; providing work under congenial conditions. Those men had not previously been employed by the firm. In nitother factory work was being found for returned servicemen who had suffered bodily disablement and special chairs were made to suit their infirmities in order that they might carry out their tasks in comfort. He had not found the profit motive dominating any of the factories he had visited. The employers were genuinely concerned with the rehabilitation of the men who had given service to the country. All they were concerned about was being able to have sufficient capital to increase the industries to retain in employment those now engaged and those who were employed before joining the armed forces and any others they could put on.

Mr. Aderman said the employers were also concerned about the supply of raw materials, because utilisation of the services of those he had mentioned depended on that. The employers’ chief consideration was to see these men rehabilitated under conditions that would compensate them for their war services. The Government was the retarding influence in this respect. It had not made known what particular policy it intended to pursue.