RETURNED SOLDIERS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3140, 19 July 1917, Page 7

RETURNED SOLDIERS

PREFERENCE IN PUBLIC SERVICE • IMPORTANT ASSURANCE BY MINISTER During.discussion in the House of JteSresentativea the Hon. D. Buddo (Kaia|>oi) urged that every suitable position in the gift of the Government should be reserved for returned soldiers. Ho said ."thai, there should be no exception to tho rule on that point. The returned, soldiers should have preferonoe in all public appointments, and the Government sliould ask private employers to give' them preference as far as possible. "Every word that has boon said regarding preference in employment for returned soldiers has. the endorsement of every member of the Government," said the Minister, of Internal Affairs (Hon. G. ,W. Buseell) later. "Tho Houso need not fear that the claims of the. soldiers •will be overlooked at any time.. ■Every position in. the public 6eTviee which oan .be. held by a returned 6oldier is held for him at the present time. A great deal more than that has been done. The Pu.b.lio Service Commissioner hus already de-cided-te make a regulation removing the age limit as fa,.- as returned soldiers are concerned in connection with the clerical division of the. Civil Service. The ago .will bs extended wherever necessary to fifty years for. the benefit of soldiers. Every .care; is being taken by tho Government, to place.returned- soldiers . in everv .nosition they can .fi11.... •..'.'

■.-"Ordinary candidates for admission to the publio service are required to pass a .medical examination. That examination has been swept aside altogether in the .oftso_ of, returned, soldiers. ..The Public Service Superannuation Board has. considered the question, of superannuation in connection' with these and a Bill is now being drafted to provide a separate branch of the Superannuation. Fund for the benefit of returned soldiers who mav enter the puiblic-. service whilo isufifering from physical disabilities that wonldwrevent them passing the ordinary medical examination. .T. can assure the House that as far as the public service is'concerned the Government, is conserving the interests of tho returned soldiers in every way T>ossible. Physical disabilities will not be allowed .to-debar the Tetnrned men from filling every vacancy if they are able to do the work."