RETURNED SOLDIERS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2544, 19 August 1915, Page 6

RETURNED SOLDIERS

——» LOOKING TO THEIR FUTURE THE, GOVERNMENT SCHEME ■Apart altogether from the benefits which the War .Pensions Act-, recently passed by Parliament, will give to tlio New Zealand sick and wounded soldiers returning from the front, tho Govornment has dccided upon a further schcme which will help tbe men whose physical condition on their discharge is not absolutely impaired to obtain civilian employment. As far as can bo ascertained, tlio scheme adopted is to be fairly extensive in its operation. It is proposed to create what will be practically a new Department of State'. The supervision of the new Department will be undertaken by tho 'Attorney-General, the He l- A. L. Herdman, on whom will devolve the responsibility of seeing that our disabled soldiers from Gallipoli are well eared for, and that those who are able to work are given every chance of finding; useful employment. A representative of The Dominion yesterday sought information on -the matter from the Hon. Mr. Herdman,' who furnished a brief outline of the proposals agreed upon, by tho Government. . "Yesterday afternoon," said tlio Minister, "Cabinet decided that I should undertake the duty of looking after the soldiers who return to New Zealand after serving abroad. "The sick and wounded men will in the first instance be taken care of by the Hon. Mr. Russell, Minister of Public Health, but after they are released from hospital treatment it will bo my business to see that work is procured for them, and that in other respects they are properly cared for. Mr. W. B. Hudson, Deputy-Commissioner and Secretary of tbe Government Life Insurance Department, has been good enough to volunteer to assist tlio Government in this new undertaking, and I am sure that his knowledge and experience will prove of great value. Steps will be taken at once to compilo a register of returned soldiers, and with that object in view tlio Defence authorities ■ have commenced to prepare a list of the names of all men who have returned to New Zealand, with their addresses and occupations. In tho case of . disabled and sick men a sliort statement describing tlieir disabilities and ailments will be supplied. "It will bo the business of the Government to got into communication with each man at onco, and to continue to keep traeo of him, so as to ensure that if he ever does happen on hard times it will not be through any lack of caro on tho part of the' State. It will be necessary to get into touch with persons controlling 'tho Patriotic and Relief Funds, and so as to facilitate this work, the Hon. Mr. Russell (tho Minister of Internal Affairs) has already set to work ..to collect information which will enable him to compile a list of patriotic funds raised throughout New Zealand, showing the amounts collected, the objects of the fund, and the addresses of those who are responsible for their administration. When these data are available, we will then consider whether it will not bo possible to devise a scheme by means of which tlio patriotic organisations in different parts of New Zealand can co-operate with tho Government in helping to take part in tho real practical work of assisting the returned soldiers. "We should, of course, make certain that suitable employment is found for all who can work, and through the'medium of the mayors of towns, chairmon of local bodies, the Labour Department, and perhaps the Board of Agriculture, an attempt will be made to accomplish this. Quite apart from the lielp that can be got in this way, _ I have no doubt that hundreds of citizens in. the country .will gladly assist in the 'work that is being commenced. Until the project is properly launched it will not bo possible to indicate the nature and extent of ■ the help tbat will be required. On this point I hope to be able to make a statement later." Asked whether any 'legislation would . bf> passed dealing witli patriotic funds, Mr., Herdman said that a Bill was in the course of preparation, but as to tho nature of its contents he could giv® no information at present.