EX-SOLDIERS IN BRITAIN.

Colonist, Volume LXII, Issue 15308, 23 February 1920, Page 5

EX-SOLDIERS IN BRITAIN.

SEEKING EMPLOYMENT

BLOCKED BY SOME TRADE

UNIONS

(Australian and N.Z. Cable Association)

(Received Feb. 22, 5.5 p.m.)

London, Feb. 18. Captain Haml:ro. in the House of Commons, drew attention to the failure of certain trade unions to nermit the employment of discharged" soldiers. A good deal of the war fervour had evaporated, resulting in many ex-soldiers not receiving the industrial welcome they were entitled to.

Mr J, Sexton (St. Helens), on behalf of the trade unions, said the difficulty was that many ex-soldiers were seeking to enter industries to which they did, not previously belong. Cries: Why shouldn't they? Mr Sexton, continuing, "said that thousands of men on returninc from the- Avar, found women in their Tohs at half men's wages. Sir Robert Home, Minister of Labour, said that trade unionism had been a steadying influence durincr the last twelve months' unrest. Disabled men had received sympathetic treatment from the threat "•'bulk of trade unions, though there were lamentable exceptions. Nearly 400,000 ex-service men were unemployed, yet great trades were without sufficient labour.