DISABLED SOLDIERS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18412, 2 November 1929, Page 8

DISABLED SOLDIERS.

COMMISSION ITINERARY. SUGGESTIONS IN DUNEDIN. * By Telegraph—Press Association. DUNEDIN, November 1. After sitting for six days, the Disabled ex-Soldiers’ Commission concluded the hearing of evidence in Dunedin to-day, and it will leave in the morning for Wellington, where the evidence of Government Departmental officers will be heard. The Auckland sitting will be commenced on Novem-’ ber 12, and when it is concluded, the Commission will travel to Christchurch. Next it will return to Wellington, for the hearing of further evidence. In the intervals between sittings, the Commission will visit various institutions, and make general inquiries. The evidence heard in Dunedin was of a, very lengthy nature, and several important suggestions were made for the employment of disabled men. The most prominent suggestions were for theestablishment of factories in towns for the manufacture of goods which would not compete with lines at present being manufactured in the Dominion; farm colonies in which various types of farming would be combined; and a seed farm.

Mr R. B. Tennent, Fields Superintendent of the Agricultural Department, in giving evidence to-day, however, stated definitely that considerable losses could be expected if men were established in any kind of farming work. He added that the only feasible solution of the problem, in his opinion, was to have men absorbed in secondary industries as under-rate workers, the Government granting a subsidy which would bring the men’s earnings up to the standard of a living wage. Mr Tennent’s suggestion is one of which almost every witness has expressed himself in favour, and the Commission intends to obtain the views of officials of the Labour organisations in Wellington. It is apparent that the Commission is giving very serious consideration to the possibility ■of the establishment in Wellington of a Board, with local Boards in each centre, whose task would be the control of all matters connected with disabled men, including the finding of suitable employment.