Soldiers’ Civil Re-Establishment

Northern Advocate, 27 July 1938, Page 7

Soldiers’ Civil Re-Establishment

[Per Press Association. Copyright. l WELLINGTON, This Day. The difficulty that still confronts the author Lies in finding suitable employment for disabled returned soldiers were detailed at the annual meeting of the Soldiers’ Civil Re-Establishment League. The meeting was opened by the Minister of Defence,, the Hon. F. Jones, who complimented the league on its work. “In such work, the men, and not the money, should be the first consideration,” said Mr Jones. “By helping disabled ex-soldiers to take up some work or hobby, the league is . doing valuable work.” Difficulties. The Minister added that he appreciated the difficulties of re-establishing disabled ex-soldiers. About 2000 returned soldiers were employed by the Post and Telegraph Department, and, in addition, the department had its own problems in finding light work for disabled members of its staff. The league would find that the Government would do its best to help it. v Resolutions were carried asking the Minister of Education, the Hon. P. Fraser, to reinstate the privileges previously enjoyed by disabled soldiers of receiving free vocational training at technical schools, urging the extension of the scheme’ under which a number of disabled soldiers could be engaged as part-time postmen, and suggesting that in all cases where economic pensioners were taught home handicraft the Pensions ’ Department - should make deduction from the economic and dependents’ pension for a reasonable period. The following resolution was also carried: “That this meeting places on record its appreciation of the efforts of the Government to provide fulltime employment at standard rates of pay for fit ex-servicemen, and that headquarters be requested to take every opportunity of pressing the claim of the disabled soldier, who is unable to support himself owing to war disability, for suitable employment with private employers, and that such claims should also be not overlooked in the Government’s employment pro-

gramme.”