RETURNED SOLDIERS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25659, 6 October 1944, Page 4

RETURNED SOLDIERS

DIRECTION TO INDUSTRY THE NEED FOR SAFEGUARDS The necessity for protecting the Interests of men who are brought back frcm overseas and directed to essential industry was stressed in a report submitted by the Rehabilitation Committee of the executive of the Dunedin R.S.A. to a meeting of the executive last night. Mr C. R. McLean, chairman of the Rehabilitation Committee, referred to the scheme recently announced by the Prime Minister (Mr P. Fraser) by which long-service personnel of the 2nd New Zealand Division will be returned to the Dominion to enter essential industry, and read the draft of a letter which it was proposed should be sent to Dominion headquarters of the association.

“Policy of Regimentation”

The draft letter stated that the Dunedin R.S.A. Committee contemplated with reluctance a policy of regimentation for the men who have been fighting for a reversal of this order. In view of the strong representations that had been made by the N.Z.R.S.A. and by the Dunedin Association concerning the release to the forces of men held in essential industry the executive felt, however, that no exception could be taken to the Government’s policy, provided the interests of the men concerned were safeguarded. The letter set out the following questions which had arisen in considering the policy:—Will steps be taken to see that only fit men are directed into industry, and that men are not directed to an industry for which they are not physically or mentally fitted? Is it certain that such direction will hold good only for the duration of the war? Will the men be permitted as far as possible to choose the essential industry to which they will be directed? The letter suggested that the most objectionable feature of the scheme—that of the direction of men who had been fighting for freedom—might be modified if the power of direction were vested in a committee consisting of, for instance, the Rehabilitation Officer, the man-power officer, and a returned soldier nominated by the Returned Services' Association as chairman. A further suggestion was that power should be given to the directing authority to release men to their former occupations, even though these might not be classed as essential, if such action would be in the public interest. Other points raised by the letter were that all men should be- assured of a wage equal at least to the wages they would have received had they returned to their former occupation; that the returning farmer should not lose any priority in securing his own farm; that men’s rights to furlough based on the length of their overseas service should not be prejudiced. Earliest Possible Release

The executive emphasised that thesS men should not be kept under direction, any longer than was absolutely necessary for the war effort, and should be released at the earliest possible date, certainly not later than the cessation of hostilities. Mpn should have the earligst opportunity of establishing themselves in the career of their own choice. If any man had an objection to direction he should be given the option of remaining in the army. « The letter drew attention to the fact that a conference of man-power officers would be held in Wellington next week, and asked that any representations decided upon by the Dominion headquarters should be made in time for them to be brought to the attention of the conference.

The executive approved of the points raised, and it was left to the president (Mr D. Forsyth) and Mr McLean to have the letter drawn up and despatched.