PUBLIC SERVICE JOBS FOR EXSOLDIERS

Horowhenua Chronicle, 27 November 1929, Page 7

PUBLIC SERVICE JOBS FOR EXSOLDIERS

MARRIED WOMEN AND PART TIME “EXTRAS”

HOMES BECOMING ESSENTIAL.

CHRISTCHURCH, Last Night.

The Commission of Inquiry regarding the repatriation of partly disabled soldiers sat Ui Christchurch to-day. The secretary of the Returned Sol fliers’ Association (Mr. F. W. Willcox) road a statement, in which he discussed at length the difficulties of finding employment for the partly disabled man. He suggested that more should

bo done towards finding positions for these men in the Public Service. He also detailed the experiences of soldier poultry farmers, saying a disabled man was unable to care for more than 500 birds and .with this number, was unable to make a living. The Hei Hoi settlement for poultry farmers, near Christchurch, had proved unsuccessful. He also argued that the conditions of the economic pension encouraged men to live in idleness, in that they had to disclose to the Pensions Board any money they earned. He suggested that employers should not so readily employ married women whose husbands hold good positions and should not give part time employment to men already earning a living wage. In this connection, he cited the case of picture show attendants. Mr. P. T. Tosswill, secretary of the Patriotic Fund, said that of the amount collected, there remained £35,211), ot which £5361 was invested in the Pan ncrdalc home. Applications for assistance had been dealt with by the committee as follows;—11)26, 661); 1927, 674; 1925, 89!); 1929, 888. The ages were: Under 35 years, 24 per cent.; 35 to 44 years, 42 per cent.; 45 to 54 years, 22 per cent.; 55 years and over, 12 per cent. The majority of applications were from unskilled men. Among the applicants were 28 disabled soldiers who had broken down during the last twm years. It was becoming more and more evident that homes and special institutions would bo required to house men unable to earn their livelihood owing to the effect of war service, but not sufficiently impaired in health to require hospital treatment. He considered expenditure at the present rate by the Pati'iotic Society could not be conlinued longer than eight years at the most. |