The Dominion MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 1916. THE DUTY OF EMPLOYERS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2885, 25 September 1916, Page 6

The Dominion MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 1916. THE DUTY OF EMPLOYERS

-» —■ — - The prominence given in the annual report of the Wellington Industrial Association to the duty' wc owe to the men who havo left these shores, to fight for, us and for. the Empire is a welcome indication that the people of New Zealand are determined that our returned .soldiers shall be given a chance of making a fresh start in life with good prospects of'success. It is quite impossible to over-emphasise this point. It would bo an eternal; disgrace to us if .with the return of peace we should forget tho debt we owe to the brave men who risked their lives for" us" in this war. ; The obligation of providing for the'resettlement of our citizen soldiers rests in the first place ! upon tho whole community, Jnit'-the smoothness and rapidity of tho reabsorptiori of these men into the ordinary industrial life of tho nation depends .mainly upou the manner in which the employers' of labour fulfil their obligations. The Industrial Association', speaking on behalf of business men of Wellington, are unstinted in their recognition' of tho inestimable'valuo of the services rendered by tho.-young citizens who have joined the colours. \"What of our industries and' businesses if oiir enemies wore allowed to gain tho upper hand?" What, indeed! It is'well that the.employers should place on record the unqualified declaration that if over preference were justified it suroly should ! bc given to returned soldiers. Such preference, is not only overwhelmingly justified; it is a duty as obvious as it is imperative. Of the many' urgent problems which will have to be tackled and solved after the war is over, the most, urgent is the unquestionable obligation of finding suitable employment for those who have- loft office, farm, shop, factory, and other occupations in obedience to their country's call. It will be a, big task and a difficult one, and it will have to-be undertaken in a,systematic way. .Its, successiul accomplishracnfwill 'necessitate co-operation between the-Gov-ernment, tho ..employers, and the managers of the technical colleges. > It must be an organised effort. .Haphazard, isolated, and fitful methods will result' in waste of energy, overlapping, confusion, and disappointment. It is a matter of national interest as well as national duty to convert our soldiers into prosperous andcontented citizens aB speedily as possible as soon as victory has prepared, the way for peace. , ■ ' • ' It would" bo a great mistake to shut our eyes to the fact that the restoration of peace will be immediately followed by the commencement of tho most strenuous commercial war the world has ever seen". If New Zealand is to take an effective part in this coming struggle, it is of tho utmost importance that the wholo of her population, and especially her young manhood, should be permanently and profitably employed. The Board of Agriculture and "the Board of Trade may be expected to render great assistance to the Government in finding work for the returned But these two boards do not cover the whole ground, and the big industrial questions which will have to be confronted in the near future have emphasised the need for tho establishment of a Board of Industries. In January last, the Prime Minister promised to give effect to the wishes of the Industrial Corporation of Now Zealand in this connection, but tho board has not yet boon set up. The Wellington Industrial" Association havo good reason for their expression of disappointment at the delay which has ' taken place. It should, however, bo borne in mind that an enormous amount of urgent [war work in, various forms has to receive the rfcramal attention of the Prime Minister, and that during the present year he has had a great deal of pressing business to clear off in order that he and the I-Minister of Finance might be free to give their full attention to highly, important Empire matters. But if the _ PsarE has made up his mind to establish a Board of Industries—and there is certainly ample scope for the proper activities of such a body—the sooner ho brings it into existence the better. ThoreTis plenty of iisofj.il work waiting for it to do oven now, and it is very desirable' that it .should without delay become familiar with its duties, so that it may be thoroughly prepared to take its part in the work of resettlement and recon-

struction which will have to be undertaken when the sword is replaced, in its scabbard; The proposed Board of Industries would naturally. 6a expected to help to give shape and direction to that movement towards thorough scientific research as related to the natural and undeveloped wealth of the Dominion jxd which reference was made by the Hon. G! W. Russell during his recent visit to Dunedin. Me. Russell's intention to call a conference of scientists and representatives of industry and _ commerce to discuss 1 tnis subject ,will meet with general approval. But it is' high time that those in authority realised that talk is vain unless it leads to definite action. The tendency to make talking a substitute for doing is one of the weak spots in our public life. 'It is no use to set up boards and call conferences unless there is behind them the necessary driving power which will get things actually done. . '