RETURNED SOLDIERS' PROBLEM

Nelson Evening Mail, 14 May 1917, Page 2

RETURNED SOLDIERS' PROBLEM

HACK TO CIVILIAN LIFE. THE CALL OF THE LAND. WHAT IS BEING DONE ELSEWHERE. With the return of so many soldiers to civilian life, the problem of finding suitable occupations for them increases. The subject was dealt with in an interview with the Hon. A. L. Herdman a few days back, and some further useful information was given to a Post reporter yesterday by Mr John I. Fox, manager of the Wellington Returned Soldiers' Club. Mr Fox stated, in regard to Mr Herdman's outline of the Government's policy, that it was gratifying to knowthat the question had been discussed and certain proposals recommended had been acted upon. far, so good." said Mr Fox, "but it was because the Ministers are so overburdened with their various duties that the returned soldiers recommended a course of action which should be acepted by the Government, and thus release it of a great deal of overloading. The appointment of a Minister who would have entire charge of returned soldiers' affairs does not mean to imply that the various Ministers who have charge of different departments will be deprived of that particular work The Minister for Returned Soldiers' Affairs would be a medium between the returned soldiers and the various Ministers who deal with different aspects of the problem. Undoubtedly the present is the time to make such an appointment, and not delay this import•mt matter until after the war. The Discharged Soldiers' Information Department should not only act as an information department, but should also ileal with the various proposals which are being recommended from time to time. Tn order to be prepared for the future, it would be wise for the Department to ascertain the views of all men who are at the present ktime on active service as to their inteuFlons- *in regard to settling on the laud' or the occupations they intend to pursue when they return to New Zealand. If it_ is possible to ascertain every Australian soldier's views about a political candidate, as was done durinir the Australian elections, surely it would be a comparatively ea.sy matter to ascertain the financial standing of each New Zealander. and what training he requires for the occupation he intends to return to when he come? back to civilian life."

LOOKING- AHEAD. Mr Fox added that a scheme of this kind had been in operation in South Australia, and supplied the following details given to him by an Australian returned soldier who has' made a very close study of the question : Upon enlisting, .men are required to fill in forms giving particulars as to the preference of their calling when returning to civilian life, their financial standing, and the assistance and training required under Government direction. This information enables the authorities to form a rough estimate of the proportion of men enlisting who will come under the various Government, schemes , after their discharge from militai-y service. In the scheme of settlement for men upon the land the authorities recognise three essentials as necessary to success —first, that the men shall receive adequate training : secondly, that they shall receive sufficient financial support; thirdlv. that thev shall be settled m communities. For' purposes of training. the Government decided upon the school farm system, where. under capable managers and instructors, the men would be taught all branches of agricultural work they later would be doing up--01. their own holding. The first of these sc-'-ioo 1 farms to be established was that of Pompoota. on the River Murray. This comprised an area of approximately SCCO arres, eompnsir.fr 560 acres of reclaimed river'swamp. 20€ acres of irrigated fruit land, and the balance of wheat lands, which was divided into holdings containing varying areas of the several varieties of soil. LEARNING- TO BE FAR.Yt'ERS.

1 The conditio.'-* under which the men became trainees on the f:u-m were, first, tli e military pay 01 5s per day. AccomI modation in 'barracks If or single men. cottages for the married men with rations ' provided, at the single men's mess, and. | double rations allowance allowed the ! married men. In addition, the men were allowed, to .purchase all their requirements in the matter of groceries, clothing, boots, implements and building material's through the Government store, on the farm. A public school was provided for the children, and a public hall for lecture purposes, religious meetings, and recreative purposes. A branch, of the Agricultural Societywas formed, and weekly lectures delivered on the various branches of the work. Rules were made for the efficient work- | iug and. controlling of the farnv that the 1 men were required to observe. A three, months' probationary term was served by each trainee, at the e«d of which a j report of his conduct and suitability as a ! settler was recorded by the farm manp.ser. and the man himself wrs given the option off continuing or leaving the school 'farm. If be decided to continue ho served for another six or 12 months, when the opportunity was given him of balloting for one of thp holdings. 0 His practical instruction included the erecting of fences and out'buil-diugs, the cultivation of lucerne arid other fodder ■crops and vegetables, the working of farm iteams and implements suitable to his future requirements, the milking of cows, the performing of 'various dairy- | ing operations, the attending df pigs and poultry, the planting of trees and vines, and general orchard work, the trainee serving a. week in rotation in pach braneli of the farm work under ithe direct guidance and instruction' of the branch foreman. CJO VERNM ENT'S FIN AN CI ALASSISTANCE. v This farm provided for the training of , ISO to 200 men at a time. Directly a j sufficient number arrived to admit of it being done working drafts were sent | on to the adjoining areas selected to prepare holdings for themselves similar to those prepared on the school farm. When these were brought into working order, thev were offered for ballot to the men who had proved thenqualifications,, who were now entitled to the -Government monetary assistance, a sum of £SCO being available for each man ; ; of this £IBO was expended in building his house, a portion used for the purchase 6f stock, such as cows, pigs, and poultry, and where desired a. team of working horses. The soldier settler has the privilege of working during his snare time at current rates of pay ior the Government Department of Irrigation, or, under the settlement scheme, of assisting in the preparation of further holdings, the object being to eliminate any period of non-earning between the -time he leaves the farm as trainee' and the earning oi a livelihood upon his holding. .ALTERNATIVE: -OCCUPATIONS. . To the trainee who at the end of his probationary period is unsatisfied with

the prospect before him as a River Murray settler, or is reported as unsuit- i able by the farm manager, other opportunities are offered. He may join upon similar terms the large wheat-growing farm college In a northern wheat area, or attach hirrtself to the 1 closer settlement scheme of fruit find Vegetable production on a 1000 acre block within a. few miles of the city of Adelaide, or he may serve under our poultry experts on the Government poultry with equal opportunities of instruction and assistance. Should his inclinations lie in the direction of city employment, he may register at the Returned Soldiers' Bureau that keeps in close touch with all the leading employers throughout the State . who have pledged themselves with the various Government departments to give the returned soldiers preference in all instances, or he may attend the School of Mines and be taught any of the various trades, receiving sufficient out of the Government advance of £SOO to keep him during his apprenticeship and to supply him with the required tools of his trade, or, in the event of his being a qualified tradesman, the assistance will the Government will provide him with the necessary tools to start in business for himself. For the soldier vhq wishes to establish himself in a retail business, the Government wil lprovidc him with the necessary premises and stock, adequately protecting themselves. HUGE SUM REQUIRED. .The method of financing the scheme is bv Government grant, supplemented bv private contributions, and it is expected that a sum of £50,000,000 will be required to re-establish the estimated 100,COO men in civilian life. Of this amount the Federal Government has already made available £22,000.000 sterling. Most of the advances made will be in the form of a loan at 2 per cent interest The difference tweeu the two per cent, and the price at wl:l : eh « I'-'.i was obtained by the Government is met by taxation.* Where considered advisable | the State War Council has the power of making a grant in the form of a ■aft. It is the Government s intention I that the school farms now being established shall be of a, permanent character and at them the. sons of deceased soldiers shall be entitled to the. advantages to which their fathers would have been entitled had they returned an-i eventually shall be opened to admit any student desiring a. course ot training provided.