EMPLOYMENT WANTED

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11172, 30 March 1922, Page 7

EMPLOYMENT WANTED

DISABLES SOLDIERS’ NEEBS REPRESENTATIVE DEPUTATION TO MINISTERS. DUTY OF THE GOVERNMENT. A deputation with reference to the problem of finding employment for disabled soldiers waited yesterday morning upon tho Hqu. G. J. Anderson (Minister for Labour) and the Hon. J. G. Coates (Minister for Public Works). Iho deputation comprised Mr D. S. Smith (vice-president), 001. .Pow (general secretary), and Mr C. W. Batten, of ’the New Zealand R.S.A. Mr h. 0. H. Tripp (president of the Wellington War Relief Association), Surgeon-Gen-* eral MoGavin (Director-General of Medical Services), and Mr E. Riddle, of the Repatriation Department, were also present. Mr D. S. Smith said that the object of the deputation was to secure employment for the partially disabled men—the men disabled 50 or 60 per cent, to 100 per cent. If these men were not totally paralysed or incapacitated, they were able to do some work; and, though they were receiving pensions, thesfe were not sufficient to support them, especially tho married men with families. It was economically essential that they should earn something: and,. apart from that, it was desirable from the health point of view and as part of the repatriation scheme that these men should have jobs. They recognised that private employers could not employ these men. They knew that fit men wore out of employment; and they contended that it was the duty of - the Government to find employment for tbesse men.; that, as part of the” repatriation scheme, the Government ought to undertake this work. This was done in the United States, in France and in Germany, where the Government itself was actually making a point of employing these men.

FULL RATES NOT NECESSARY. It was not necessary that they should receive full rates of wages. The R.S.A. held that their pensions should be taken into consideration, and suggested that the rates of pay should he such as to make up the pensions of married men to £4 a week and those of single men to £8 a week. There were 14 disabled men in Wellington without work, and about 100—not more —in, the Dominion. as a whole. They thought that the Government should confer with heads of the various State Departments and'find jobs for these men. Mr Anderson: How do you suggest they should be given these jobs? Do you suggest that wo should discharge men now employed l to give these men jobs? Mr Smith: Yes, if necessary. We think that if you have got 50 single men they should be discharged to give these men employment. . . You oould employ two of these men at a single wage for eaoh single man discharged. Mr Coates: Would you get the same efficiency ? Mr Smith: It would depend upon the jobs. If, he contended, a man’s disability made him less efficient, that should bo compensated for by his pension. '

Mr Anderson: What sort of <jobs? .Mr Smith: It is very difficult to say. Bht if you would let me ransack through the Railways and Post and Telegraph Departments, I think I could find the jobs. Mr Tripp (president of of the War Relief Association), who was with them, and Mr Weston (chairman of the local Repatriation Board), who was also present, had come quite independently to the conclusion that it was the duty of the State to find work for partially disabled men; and. that-if they oould not he found work without discharging single men, then these would have to be discharged—even fit single returned men would have to go if necessary. The cases had already been put up to the Public Service Oommissioner, but he said, for example, if a messenger’s job was suggested, that he had got enough messengers. Surely, the Government oould deal with tjiis limited rfumher of oases. Mr Batten said that the R.S.A. had fixed a low rate of pay so ’that if these men oould get outside employment they would do so; and on the other hand, if v they _ proved efficient, the Government might give them increased wages. The reason why these men had not made pioro outcry was that they had got little odd jobs and had lived on their savings. He knew one man who had spent £2OO in that way, but had now reached the end of his tether. The R.S.A. thought- that if Cabinet would call 'together the public Service Commissioners and the heads of the Railway and Post and Telegraph Departments thev could answer the question asked of Mr Smith as to what jobs could he made available. APPLICATIONS FOR HELP.

Mr Tripp said that the War Relief Association found that the 'men with 50 to 100 per cent, disability were coming to it for help, and if they were deserving of help, the association was assisting them. At the same time, the association thought it the duty of the Government to find! work far these men, of whom, it wao understood,’ there were only 100 in New Zealand. He could not help thinking; that if the representatives of the R.S.A. met the heads of departments they oould find work for these men—-work that they could do in nil efficient manner. Tb a actual money that the Government would have to find in addition to the would not he very much. The association’s experience, was that tho great thing was to enable these men to help themselves and to* make good. In times like these, they held that tho first duty of the 'Government should be towards those 'men who had suffered so much. *

Colonel Pow cited the case of a man who had boon farming at Fefldir|g before the war. but had got the top of his shoulder knocked off and found that he could not carry on farming now. He had! a pension or 30s to 32s a week, and six months ago his wife got notice that her pension was to cease. He (Colonel Pow) made in?[uiries, and got her pension continued or six months; but a fortnight' ago the six months was up, so these two were now trying to live on 30s to 32« a week. The man had) 'been trying all sorts of odd jobs to. eke out bis pension, taking round aluminium handles for broken cups l , and so on; but had ’ onl j, earned 3s to 4s a day. Colonel Pow added' that ho had looked through tho list of messengers in Wellington,® and must say that there were not many single men employed. But he thought that the disabled soldiers should bo absorbed. Too much, however, was expected of Wellington. The Government should look through lists all over tho Dominion to find work for these men. Air Smith, pressed l Ministers for a, definite answer. MINISTERS IN REPLY. Air Anderson said' that they could not give a definite answer then, as neither tho Prime Minister nor the Minister in charge of Repatriation (the Hon. D. 11. Guthrie) .was present. He Would, however, submit then* representations toCabinet as soon as the |

Prime Alinistor returned. Meantime, he would look into the matter and 6ee what oould be dona. With, regard to putting out messengers to make room for disabled soldiers, ho was afraid that they would not do for messengers, because messengers of ton luid' to carry heavy -weights, which a man with hie shoulder off, for -instanco, obviously could! not do. Whatever, was done, the 'Government would hla/ve to take a broader view than the meeseh-ger staff. The Government, he assured tho deputation, was doing all it could for Unemployed soldiers generally. The previous day works had been set out in which tho soldiers would get a. very fair number of opportunities. Air Coates said that ho saw one or two difficulties in the way, the first of which was how tho Government was going to get over tho difficulty of -laying tho men less in the public service. But these difficulties had to bo overcome. Speaking for the departments he controlled, which did not, come directly under the Public Service Commissioner, they gave the soldier a chance, but ,if a man went back on his job he was afraid they could do no more for him. “TRYEiRS” WOULD SUOOBED. He agreed! that it was the duty of the Government to' help these men along: and ho was heart' and soul for doing the beet possible for them. He wanted to make it dear that if a man was a tryor he would do but, if not, he had not got a hope. Ho would be glad to get to work so fa.r as his departments we’re concerned to see what could' be oone; and when tho Prime Minister came back Air* Anderson and he would go into it together. He thought a single man with a pension of 40s a week could get along. Mr Smith said that tho R.S.A. thought that the single man should bo put m a position to earn enough to make their incomes up to £3 a week. A single man often had to support a parent or other, relation. Air Coates eaid 'that he would be very glad to go through his departments to see wli-at the -position was. His conscience felt quite easy in regard to returned soldiers, because in his departments returwecT soldiers got the preference—an absolute preference, too men who were not fit. Of course, married men came- first; and' single men with dependents next. There was no question that the ablebodied rotumed soldier, who was a single man, should he prepared, if necessary, to give way in favour of married men, especially disabled men, wh-o had no work. General Ale Gavin said) that oue class of returned 1 soldier was certainly entitled to consideration—the men who had been more or less continuously under treatment since their return and had not hitherto had a- chance under the repatriation scheme. As regards the other disabled men, who were out of employment, he suggested that each oase should be considered on its merits. The deputation thanked the Ministers fob .their reception.