RETURNED SOLDIER LABOR.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 14610, 21 May 1918, Page 4

RETURNED SOLDIER LABOR.

AN INTERESTING LETTER. A letter was received by Mr. T. A. Bamber from the Discharged Soldiers' information Department, m reply to an inquiry made by him as to the employment of returned soldier labor. Tne following shows the number of men on the wanted register m the various towns : Wanganui, 6; Marton, 1; Feilding, 3; Palmerston North, 2; Gisborne, 8; Napier, 6; Hastings, 14; Dannevirke, 5; Pahiatua, 5 ; Wairarapa, 5 ; Levin, 5 ; Wellington, 24; total, 84. The above figures show those men have indicated that they are ready and fit to work. jOf the above only 12 would accept farm work. Employment has been found I for 57 men m various capacities since January last. In conversation with a Herald reporter, Mr. Bamber said the letter was especially interesting m view of the I fact that so much had been ajiid about the returned soldiers not being given employment m the country. It also served to show that although about 15,000 men had returned, only 84 have taken up their old employments, or have not satisfactorily taken up new lines, xjl that number only 12 took up country work. The letter is, further interesting m view of the statement made about the problem of employment of j returned soldiers. When .these men; [return from service they generally de|sire to take up employment m the town m preference to the country, having experienced so much pleasure m company while on active service. Of course, there are exceptions to almost every rule, but the latter is taken to indicate that at the present time, anyhow, the position is not as serious as has been stated.