REPATRATION

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12570, 6 March 1919, Page 3

REPATRATION

MEETING OF BOARD Ihe weekly meeting ot the Repatriation Board was 'held last night., Mr A. ■ W. J amieson in the chair. Others present were Messrs JR. iS. J. Goodman, A- B. M’Callura, ,W. E. Leadley, G. H. Hewlett, J. D. Million, F. - W. Hobbs. E. J. Howard, A. F. Drayton, D. ,Jones, F, T. Eldriagb, J. .A. Clarke, Mm. tioss and T. M, Charters (District Repatriation Officer). • Mr C. H. Hewlett reported on the board’s sub-committee’s visit to the Homobroqk-Estate. It was stated at the last meeting of the board that criticisms had been levelled against the Hqmebrook Estate, which was put up for ballot last 'Wednesday. A visit to the estate had shown that the allegations were unfounded. The various blocks were in a- good condition.- Moat of the wheat crops were useful, and some were estimated to ;go over sixty bushel to the acre. One-or. two inferior patches of. crop could be accounted for hy late sowing or insufficient working owing to weather. The gorse hedges were in fair order. The sub-committee recommended that the Government bo asked to cut the few thistles that arc growing on the estate. Mr Hewlett, on behalf of the Employment Committee, reported that two cases had come to his notice , of employers advertising for girl clerks. The employers in question had been written to on the matter. Mr Jamieson urged 1 that the 1 board should investigate any. cases where girls were being taken on in preference to returned soldiers. The matter was then brought up as to whether publicity should be given to the existing unemployment problem regarding soldiers. " The chairman recommended that the unemployed soldiers should be iutorviewed with a'view to classifying them and instructing them ’ regarding the labour problem. Mr W, E. Leadley strongly opposed the idea of denying publicity to the existing unemployed problem- He stated that when, the matter of employing returned soldiers was in the hands of the Returned Soldiers’ Association the newspapers had nobly come to their aid and given full prominence to the fact that there were sol- ( diers needing work. Through this Press publicity the association had been able to secure positions for these soldiers. He urged that employers should be approached with a view to educating them to the necessity for giving preference to returned soldiers. There were at present twenty soldier clerks in Christchurch who were unemployed. He considered it a public scandal. He proposed that instead of interviewing the men, the board should interview the employers. What the men want is work, not speeches,” concluded Mr Leadley. , ’Mr Howard _ opposed the policy of criticising individual employers who had not employed returned soldiers. The Repatriation Board was not a glorified labour bureau. He did not believe in annoying employers. The board should look at the matter from a broader point of view. The money that would have been spent on prosecuting the war, had it continued for another year, should be devoted to assisting the returned soldier. He claimed that every returned soldier was entitled to borrow £350 .from the Government but it would bo impossible for the Government to carry out its obligations. Ho did not agree with the policy of discharging from their employment all men who bad not been to the front, and also dispensing with the services of girls. ‘‘lf you sack every man who has not gone to the front and replace him by a returned soldier, vou won’t improve matters,” said Mr Howard. “ If you turn the girls out on to the streets what will they doP Let them marry the soldiers?” Mr M’Callum stated that there were several girls who had no need to earn their own livelihood who were at present employed in good positions and they were not desirous of leaving their appointments. He added that, "of the '■■oldiers who had none to the front 1(1,000 would - not return.- He consid-

ered that work should and could be found for the remainder. It .was finally; decided that the matter be referred to the Employment Committee. Tlie matter of appointing an inspector to deal with the cases of soldiers requiring - advances was then 'brought up. It was decided to telegraph to the Director of Repatriation in Wellington asking him to authorise Mr Charters to appoint an officer. In the.meantime Mr Charters trill make a temporary appointment :