AID FOR EX-SOLDIERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20598, 24 June 1930, Page 11

AID FOR EX-SOLDIERS.

EFFORTS TO FIND WORK.

CORPS OF COMMISSIONAIRES.

ORGANISATION BEING FORMED

A corps of commissionaires, similar to that which has existed in London since the Crimean War, is to be recruited in Auckland among ex-service men who are in need of employment such as that offering for commissionaires. The corps is beins; organised under the auspices of the Returned Soldiers' Association and wf.ll be controlled by an organisation, the name of which has not at present been definitely decided, but will take the form of an "exservice men's employment association," working in conjunction with the Returned Soldiers' Association or the " Ex-Service Men's Civil Re-establishment League" proposed by the recent commission set up bv the Government.

" These men helped tho Empire when it was in danger of being wrecked and now there is a danger of the men themselves being wrecked," said Sir George Richardson, who, as president of the Returned Soldiers' Association, is making an appeal for the cooperation of employers. Five hundred circulars are being issued, asking employers to state whether they will support the scheme and, if so, the nature and number of positions they are prepared to nominate to be filled by ex-service men approved of and recommended by the organisation. Need of Co-operation. " A number of persons specially interested in the welfare of ex-service men have joined together in an endeavour to alleviate the position as regards the large number of unemployed ex-service men in thi. 1 ? city," says Sir George Richardson in the circular. "The majority of these men are of good character and have good service records, but by reason of their war services, age, or other causes are unable to obtain suitable employment either in the city or the country. " A large number of them are unable to take advantage of the relief given by the Government through its labour bureau because they are incapable of doing heavy labour, such as that involved in relief works, and the only solution in so far as these men are concerned is to find them some light duty employment in the city. This can only be done with the assistance and co-operation of the Government and private employers of labour. Outline of Proposals.

Our proposals are to obtain this cooperation by arranging with the Government and employers concerned to agree to absorb as many of these ex-service men as possible in positions such as caretakers, liftmen, nightwatchmen, porters, attendants and other light employment jobs in Government departments, commercial firms, theatres, picture palaces and institutions where the above mentioned duties can be filled satisfactorily by such men as we are now endeavouring to help. It is realised that these positions art being filled at the present time and that the unemployment problem would not be solved by discharging the present, employees and substituting them by exservica men and we do not suggest that this should be done, but only that these positions should be gradually filled as they become vacant by ex-service men engaged through an organisation which we propose to establish." Ms ?mbership of the organisation will l>iT confined to ex-servicemen of good character who are vouched for by the controlling body. This will be composed ot president, secretary, treasurer and an executive committee to be appointed annually. Among the suggested conditions of employment is a provision that a fidelity bond shall be given to each employer as a protection against any loss that "might be incurred through the employment.