STANDING ARMY

Grey River Argus, 27 November 1942, Page 4

STANDING ARMY

Post-war Policy

AUSTRALIAN RETURNED .MEN’S PROPOSALS.

(Rec. 11.20) SYDNEY Nov 26. The Commonwealth Returned Servicemen’s League at its annual Conpress, has adopted a policy including ( the establishment of a permanent Australian army of one hundred thousand men. The policy of the Congress is one aimed at securing the reestablishment in civil life of hghting men. It was described as an Australian Charter.” . The proposals in the policy include one that the personnel of the fighting services shall be retained on t strength until they are reinstated in their prewar positions or are absorbed into other ur ® a lt d Provided ‘ special training should be provided . where necessary. i n <stiThe policy proposes also the inst. tution of housing schemes to meet a shortage that is estimated at moie than a quarter of a million homes. Other proposals are.— n n The unification of the Australian

ra ßxpetlit“on S “r the preparations lor 'mTtaikhnfoHT&n works In the central area, northern and other arid parts of Australia. sold’ers’ An immediate plan for soid-ers ' al and de-central-is The Congress has also decided to impress the Government with the urgent, necessity of vocational training for ex-servicemen and ex-service women.

N.Z. RETURNED MEN.

PLANS FOR EMPLOYMENT.

WELLINGTON, November 26. Plans for the re-absorption of at least 50,000 men have been completed, and these cover only such work as housing, re-afforestation, hydro- electric works .railway construction, and public building, states Mr M. Moohan. chairman of the Rehabilitation Board. In the near future local bodies will be asked to submit plans of work required to be done, and domain boards particularly should bo able to give very helpful employment for neurasthenic eases.

“A survey of our industrial requirements is being, undertaken, and very shortly we. hope to be able to present a comprehensive scheme ot furnishing up-to-date information regarding the ability of industry to absorb men in the production of goods and services. While it is highly desirable to make provision for the absorption of men in the creation of national assets, it will be economic suicide if we don’t try and get the maximum number of people working on tire production . of goods. The question of decentralisation is very important. Every encouragement should be given to the establishment of light industries in the smaller centres, so that the population may be encouraged to disperse evenly over the whole Dominion “Our social services will be extended and improved as rapidly as possible. Houses and furniture must however, remain the most urgent of all problems, as these are required in the first step in rehabilitation.’’ t