RETURNED MEN'S WORK

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 199, 11 May 1918, Page 3

RETURNED MEN'S WORK

TREATMENT QUESTIONED

THE MINISTER IN REPLY

The treatment boing accorded to returned soldier in the matter of employment was briefly discussed on Wednesday afternoon at the meeting of the executive of the Auckland Patriotic Association.

Mr. W. B. Leyland said there wero in Auckland returned men soking employ, raent who could (-do the work at present being done by ethers. If they were to be given such positions it would release the men, now filling them under the Defence Department, and in other directions. The latter could then return to their former occupations. Doubtless not all of these could go to the front. Tho president, Mr. J, 11. Gunson, said that tliero wero many complaints that tho claims of returned soldiers in respect of employment were not receiving the consideration they should receive. He suggested that the Minister of Defence might be communicated with on the subject.

The belief was expressed that the conditions complained of wero general throughout the Dominion. Members considered, however, that beforo acting in tho matter further (lain should he procured. With that objeei in view, therefore, the question was referred to tho association's Employment Committee for a report.

Seen subsequently by a representative of the "Herald," Sir Samoa Allen was asked whether the Defenoa Department was taking, or would Inke, any steps to replace men in its service, who had not been to the front for various reasons, with returned soldiers. The Minister replied that the Department had been giving preference to returned men for a considerable time past whenever they were suitable for the particular job. They were not always suitable, however. "It is not a fnct, so far as I know, that there are returned soldiers, suitable for employment under the Defence Department, who are not getting such employment," ?aid Sir James. "Those who jiiuKe tno statement that there are muse prove it. On the other hand, we do not want to encourage returned men to take up woik in the Defence Department, because that work would only be temporary. We are trying, rather, to encourage them to go back to their previous occupations. It would not be kindness to put them out of the work in which they woro formerly employed, fyhere are very few returned men out of employment, so far as I know. The Discharged Soldiers' Department has found work for most of them." It was pointed out to the Minister that there was a growing feeling that others were being employed in positions which returned soldiors could fill, and that the subject had been discuased earlier in tho day by the executive of the Patriotic Association. "All I can say is, lot us have specific instances," said the Minister. Asked whether, if specific oases were brought under his notice, he would instal returned men in positions now held under tho Defence Departmont by men who had not been to th* front, Sir James replied: "Yes; provided that the returned men iu question are equally as capable of performing the duties to the same deTES of efficiency as tne men at present performing them. But, I must say again," he added, "that it is not my duty to encourage a man to take a temporary occupation vhen he could get a permanent one. 1 know of no cases of unfair treatment of returned men by my Departmont." , _. . . Referring to tho Second Division League's request that allotment money should be held by the Department as nest-eggs against tho mens return, tlia Minister said a great many of tho men had a nest-egg awaiting them in the shape of employment, this applied lo all Civil Servants, railwaymen, and most of the bank clerks, whilst moat of tho business ottos and mercantile houses had undertaken to re-employ their for-mer-employees on their return iroin the war Men previously working on farms, also, would have no dif'Wilty m finding work when they retarned. >Vith regard to labouring men, if they could not find other work the Government could take 15,000 for its works. 'Hie probloi o what to do for tho remainder who might not be able to find suitable- work was being thought out. It was n very Mbcult one, but these men deserved consideralion. ______