THE RETURNED SOLDIER

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3082, 12 May 1917, Page 10

THE RETURNED SOLDIER

WORK IN PUBLIC SERVICE THE SUPERANNUATION BAR "The problem of providing for tho employment of the returned soldier has been most ably undertaken hy my colleague," said tho Hon. G. W. RusseU yesterday. _ "There is, however, ono phase, of this problem which has come prominently beforo me as Minister charged with the administration of the Publio Service Act. There is a strong desiro on tho part of tho Government that every assistance should be given to returned soldiers in tho way of public employment, but as the law stands at present theso men can only bo employed in temporary positions,, and cannot be inado permanent officers of the service. "Tho question involved is a large one, and it is possible that tho numbers affected will not be so groat as might seem probable at first glance. However, when we come to deal with 80,000 or 100,000 men it is verv pos-sible-that a very large number of them will look for employment in tho public service on thoir return. Thero will he many mon who have been weakened by war service who will look, and will look with perfect richt, to clerical employment in the Public Servico as their future occupation. It is possible that tho doors of the service in roenrd to examination will have to be widened to meet these cases. Theso men will deserve every consideration, and if they havo to begin at the bottom of tho ladder and work their way up, a way must be found for them. There is, however, ono groat bar to tho employment of soldiers in tho Publie Service, and that is tho Superannuation Fund. 'All the actuarial calculations for the fmid are hnsed on the assumption that only young and healthy persons will he allowed to enter the service. It would he inwossiblo to apply this test to soldiers, because it would debar a great many of them from entering the service. The question, therefore, is whether it is possible to provide superannuation for such cases without unduly burdening the present superannuation fluids', which might indeed break down if a large number of men in weak health wero admitted, esoecially as experience has shown thai some of them do break down in health after their return here. I have brought the matter beforo the Superannuation Board for consideration, and the board is now considering a proposal made to them that a separate branch of the Public Service Superannuation Fund be established for tho benefit of all .-eturned soldiers enterinn; the Public Service.. This fund would he n temporary fond. It would_ ho supported by the usual contributions of tho participants, but all tho other money required to maintain the fund in a solvent condition would have to be taken from tho Consolidated -Fund."