STATEMENT UNTRUE

Taranaki Daily News, 17 April 1935, Page 7

STATEMENT UNTRUE

HOSPITAL AND RETURNED MEN. EMPLOYMENT OF LABOUR. The circulation of statements that the board would not employ returned soldiers was objected to by members oftthe Taranaki Hospital Board yesterday. The chairman, Mr. P. E. Stainton, said the statements arose as the result of calling applications for the position of gardener. When it became known that such statements were being circulated the board 1 communicated with the Returned Soldiers’ Association, New Plymouth, and asked that an investigation be held. Subsequently the man alleged to have made the statements made a written statement denying having done so. Members considered it was time steps were taken to prevent circulating of statements that were without foundation.

. Applications were called 1 through the Press and 6G applications were received, the Returned Soldiers’ Association was advised in a letter from the board. The committee followed the usual practice, whenever possible appointments should be made firstly from married men, secondly from those who were unemployed, and thirdly, all things being equal, that a returned soldier should be given preference.

To the amazement of the grounds committee reports had come from a number of sources that one of the applicants for the position had stated “That as soon as he was asked by the committee if he was a returned soldier he knew he had no chance as he knew that a circular had been issued by the Health Department to all hospitals that no returned soldiers were to be employed as it was known they ‘crack up’ in health at about 4J years.” Following investigation the person named as having been responsible for the statement to which objection was taken made the following statement:— “One reason I stated I did not get the job was that I was asked a personal question by a member of the board, which I J esented and I refused to answer any more questions. 1 also took exception to being asked if I was a returned soldier, as I do not think any preference should be given to a returned man. If all men are equal, all should stand on their own merits. I do not believe in picking and choosing. I did not say anything of the sort contained in the letter from the hospital board relating to a circular regarding instructions not to employ returned men, as they ‘crack up’ at about 40 years of age. Even if I had been selected for the job 1 would not have taken it after the member’s question.”