REINSTATEMENT.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 18220, 7 October 1919, Page 7

REINSTATEMENT.

RAILWAY DEPARTMENT AND SOLDIERS. MR MASSEY TO INQUIRE. (From Ottb Coebzßpojtd®nt.] _ WELLINGTON, October 6. The Hon G- W. Russell asked the Minister of Railways to-night whether Lis attention, had been drawn to a meeting of the Christchurch Repatriation Board dealing with the employment of railwaymen dismissed as fit from the forces and now refused' employment in the Department by whioh they were engaged prior to the war. Mr Russell suggested that inquiry should be made, as it appeared the Railway Department was setting a Very bad example to employers throughout the country. (Hear, hear.) Mr Massey: I must ask that the question be put in the Order Paper 60 that I can make investigation. A large number of men were employed by the Department. All, however, are being taken back. Mr T. W. Rhodes. These men now concerned resigned from the Department to prove their patriotism by going away. (Hear, hear.) Several members expressed an emphatic . opinion that men who had resigned from the rail wry service should bo given an opportunity to re-enter the Department. Mr Massey: That has been done in quite a number of cases to my own personal knowledge. 5 1 assure members that it has been the rule to reinstate these men np to present. There must be some special reason in the cases mentioned. Mr Field (Otalri) suggested that private employers also should be compelled to take back men who enlisted wnilst in their service. Mr Massey: I am afraid we ha'e no such power, but I should think any right-thinking employer would be only too pleased to take back men who hail done their duty to their country. Mr Luke suggested a Government announcement asking employers to reinstate their men. Mr Witty: They should do it themselves first. (Hear, hear.) Mr Luke: In any case I think it ► would be an excellent thing if the Prime Minister took some action (Hear, hear.)