RETURNING SOLDIERS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9691, 20 June 1917, Page 6

RETURNING SOLDIERS

PROVISION FOR THE FUTURE WHAT ABOUT THK PROMISE OF I, AM) ? Olio .ol llio problems that must be (filtrwi ill the session of Pariiannent com-nu-iH'ing next week is the question of providing; for the .soldiers who havu already returned or are still to return. In the earlier period of the war the assurance was repeatedly tpven that these! men would he amply provided for. As far as may be judged up to the present time, although only something like 8000 men have returned out of 80,000, the State is failing lamentihly ill its undertaking. Statements (ire repeatedly being issued by the Hon. A. L. Hardman, under whoso control a Department exists, showing .the number of men who have been pbm-’d in eivililtn employment or who liave passed through its hands. On paper the results appear to be reassuring. ' "W hen one gets in touch with the returned men, scores of whom arc looking for the land that was promised them or .searching for the employment they ’cannot find, another side of the picture is presented. As a .■matter of fact, the Department for Returned Soldiers is a mere political futility. Some time ago, it was stated •from the front that a large proportion of men would never return to their civilian employment, and were, depending on the assurance that land would ! Jbe provided for them on which to settle. Where Ls that land? It is sadly failing to materialise. Certainly, a few soldiers have been suecesslully placed on blocks such as the one near Oituondville. For the most part, howievor, tho soldiers ,are unable to obtain suitable land. In some instances, indofonsihlo purc’luiscs oi unsuitable inncl ibavo been made, and these should certainly bo severely reviewed by Parlm■ment. In, such instances, tho soldiers irofuso to apply- for such undesirable Sections, and ‘this refusal is publicly interpreted as a disinclination on tho ■part of .soldiers to go on the land at all. This is a misrepresentation of tho true situation. These soldiers have been promised land, and this land should be convenient to good markets, and of a class amenable to cultivation. If wo m a .y judge by a circular that lias *just been issued by the Hon. -A. U. Jlerdmaii, tho settlement of returned soldiers on the land does not enter largely into tl>e Government s plans. ■On the contrary, it appears to be more probable that the intention is that tho returned soldiers are to he mere .hewers of wood and drawers of water. Hero are Mr Hcrdman’s proposals tor ■Urn returned soldiers as sot out in Jus •pamphlet and which ho says ho inrecommending the Government Ao do: — .. , First, that a substantial sum of money be provided for tho purpose of undertaking works of utility upon which discharged soldiers can be usefully employed. Second, that the Public Works Hej> or taunt be directed- to prepare a ochodul© of works of public utility which, if put in hand, will afford employment. for discharged soldiers. Third, that a similar direction be ,-iiveu to the Lands Department. On this point I am not. certain, but 1 Imagine That the Lands Department could perhaps employ men as foresters or gardeners at the State nurseries, and'coiild initiate such work as hushielliiiK and preparing land for settlement. Fourth, that the local bodies of tno Dominion he requested to prepare schedules of works which they could undertake) with the consent and under the supervision of the Government; riit that no such work be commenced Until tho advisers of tho Government have certified that the works are of ■public utility, that they nro of a nature upon which discharged soldiers can ho usefully employed, and that tho general scheme has been approved Oy them. Fifth, that the law be altered to onablo local bodies to obtain advances with the consent of tho Government or its advisers, and without the consent of the ratepayers, for the purpose of undertaking works which too Government or its advisers consider 4o bo in the public interest and upon which discharged soldiers can be usoluffy employed. . .... Sixth, that in connection with the works mentioned in the preceding paragraphs "all preliminary preparations. such as the drawing of plans hnd the settling of specifications, bo completed forthwith, so that the wortc can bo put in hand immediately hostilities cease if tho necessity for tho Work arises. . It should be noted that tho works indicated above will create employment- for roadmakers, gardeners, engineers, foresters, railroad makers, bridge builders, carpenters, bricklayers, ■ plasterers, paperhangers, bushtollers, fencers, and general labourers.

To carry out tho scheme some legislation will be required, and it would be necessary to appoint a committee of experts,' for we have no engineers or contractors in the office of the Discharged Soldiers’ Information Department.

If tills completely foreshadows the Government programme, it looks as if lirtle or nothing is going to be done by rho State for the returned soldiers, who arc to be divided between the resource of private employment and semi-charitable relief works. If this is so, it is imperative that Parliament should give the whole question immediate attention, and more especially in tho fulfilment of the promise that land should bo provided for every soldier who wished to make a homestead for himself in tho country. Hn the present state of the public mind, any departure from this promise, involving n direct breach of faith with the soldiers, will not bo tolerated. Probably the first and most effective change in the desired direction would bo the appointment of a Minister more in syrup a thy with the soldiers to the control of the Department.