REPATRIATION OF SOLDIERS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3070, 4 May 1917, Page 6

REPATRIATION OF SOLDIERS

AUSTRALIA'S SCHEME GOVERNMENT ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY Senator E. D. Milieu, the Vice-Presi-dent of the Federal Executive Council and the Minister iii charge of questions connected with, the repatriation of returned soldiers, described to a gathering in the vestibule of the Sydney lown Hall last week the outlines of organisation and administration of a scheme of repatriation. The Lord Mayor (Alderman K. D. Meagher), who presided, said it was generally recognised that the matter of the repatriation of returned soldiers was among the most important of the problems which had ever confronted the people of Australia. The conditions which would spring up after the war would to a very large extent change_the whole complexion of tlieir economic and social life. The question of finding employment for the returned soldiers was a national obligation and honour. (Applause.) He commended the Federal Government's decision to place "the repatriation problem in the hands of Senator Millen.

Proposals Summarised. Senator Milieu summarised the Government's proposals in regard to the problem of replacing in a civil occupation every returned soldier as follows: (1) Tlie National Government accepts the full responsibility of securing to every returned soldiers the opportunity of livelihood by providing avenues of civil employment. : (2) The National Government will provide up to £22,000,000, which will bo advanced to the States in connection with land settlement. Soldier settlers may secure. advances for improvement up to £500 per man. _ (3) The repatriation work in connection with returned men will be undertaken upon arrival, and not,, as at pre■sent, upon discharge from the military forces. (4) A conference of the executives of existing funds will bo called to secure greater co-ordination. (5) The work of repatriation will be controlled by the Government, but administered by a board of trustees, of whom a, Minister of the Crown shall bo chairman. (6) k limited number of permanent officials in each State will be charged with the executive work to ensure decentralisation. . (7) Local committees will be established for the encouragement of local soldiera. (8) A special branch will deal with the provision and'maintenance of artificial, limbs! (9) Permanently maimed soldiers will be afforded every opportunity to -supplement their pensions by the establishment of specially-equipped workshops for permanently maimed soldiers. (10) Some form of "reserve" employment must be found to tide over the period between military discharge and the obtaining of the particular employment desired by individual soldiers.