REPATRIATION

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 217, 1 June 1918, Page 6

REPATRIATION

The proposals relating to repatriation lately advanced by the Heturned Soldiers' Association and the Second Division League arc in some respects extremely divergent, but they have served in common the useful purpose of giving this very important question something like the prominence- 'it" deserves. Fortunately there is no serious danger of the Stale neglecting its obvious duty to soldiers returning from the War, but instances have already come to light in which existing arrangements have boon found wanting under a working test, and it is very necessary that action should be taken in good time not only to correct mistakes, but in order to meet the much more onerous demands that will arise as time goes mi. The fullest possible ventilation of tho question of repatriation in nil Us aspects is to be welcomed on this ground, and also because an awakened public opinion and the widest possible co-operation are es-sential-to the successful elaboration and operation of a really -comprehensive scheme . aiming at the rclitoration of soldiers to-civil life under the best conditions. In view nf_ the lino taken by many of its critics, it may be worth while- to emphasise the fact that the Government has in the main shown creditable enterprise in dealing with its responsibilities under this head. Some at least" of those who a re l intent upon gaining the fullest possible recognition by the State of its responsibility in the matter of restoring soldiers to civil life have taken insufficient account of what has been and is being done to this end, and are open to the charge also of failing to realise the essential complexity of the' repatriation problem. The- Second Division League, for example, laid proposals before the.. Acting-Prime Minister last week' which rather imply that it regards the- whole field of repatriation as virgin ground. Tho chief proposal of tho League was that soldiers should receive pay, allowances, and financial assistance on the, active service scale for at least three month's "after'their discharge or demobilisation, and that them payments should bo continued for. a longer period on the recommendation of local boards. -The Lcaguo also urged the Government to create a_ special Department of Repatriation which, with the assistance of local boards, would servo the interests of returned soldiers, but thecentral feature of its recommendations is tho proposal to continue pay, allowances, and financial assistance in the manner mentioned. All sorts of objections to such a proposal suggest themselves, but it must be condemned for the simple reason that it is utterly unsound in principle. Tho first object of any repatriation scheme should bo to return our soldiers as rapidly and as smoothly as possible back to the ranks of the civilian population in positions equal to, if not better than, those which they relinquished when they Joined the' military forces. It is in their interest and in the interest of all that they should bo reabsorbed and resume their old place in tho life of the community as early as possible after their return, due allowance, of course, being, made for a reasonable'time in which to visit their friends and relations. Tho adoption of the League's proposal, it might be added, would entail a very_ considerable expenditure in making substantial grants to men already well placed to take up a good position in civil life, and so would limit the resources available for the assistance of men in a loss fortunate position. The proposal, moreover, can hardly bo said to have any real reference to tho con-dit-ions and nroblcms'to be met. It might be carried out in its entirety without bringing a solution of the essential problems of repatriation appreciably nearer. It is the most elementary fact bearing on these problems that they are incapable of any simple solution and that what is needed is a scheme of assistance in the fullest degree flexible and adaptable, and taking account of all sorts of varying conditions and needs. It should be. hardly necessary to cite evidence on the point, but it may be mentioned as relevant that the latest return issued by the Discharged Soldiers' Information Department shows that of 19,6615 soldiers thus far entered upon its records ;J790, nearly one-fifth of the total number, have intimated that they need no assistance. This is irrespective of 56SS men who have had work to return to, or have re-enlisted or returned to military duty. These figures supply plain evidence that no practical treatment of the repatriation problem can be based on the assumption that all returning soldiers stand in need of special assistance and should be assisted substantially on a common scale. Further deliberation will probably suggest to the members of the Second Division League the wisdom of supporting development on tiic lines indicated by the Returned Soldiers' Association. At its conference at Auckland the latter organisation embodied its views on repatriation in the following comprehensive resolution: *

"That a Minister and a Dcpartmniit. of Repatriation bo set up, which will concern itself, solely with the iniestion of repatriation. Su;h Department should have at its disposal expert experience and opinion in every brand) of j.rnile. profession, or business. Tho association undertakes to supply tho Department

with evidence showing how the various fi.Vatenis work out in practice from Uiu individual standpoint. The Department should lake over the soldier on his discharge from the forces. Wo consider that Iho Department should deal with the followinjf matters:— "(ft) The re-establishment of Uio returned soldier in suitable employment. "(b) An efficient system of land settlement. ";'(•) Assisting suitable returned soldiers to establish themselves iii business. "(d) Opportunity for the acquiring of homos by returned soldiers. "(e) Adamite pensions for war disablement or loss, in the ease of both soldiers and (heir dependants and the dependants of those who have fallen. "(f) Facilities and encouragements to learn new trades or professions in order to overcome war disabilities."

A glance at these proposals will show that though they break some new ground a number of them have already bceu carried into effect. Dn. E. Boxed, who presided over the Returned Soldiers' Conference, summed up the position in observing that the idea underlying the whole proposal was that all efforts for the benefit of returned soldiers should be centralised under one head instead of being distributed as at present under the care of _ a number of Ministers. The appointment of a Minister to generally _ supervise all measures of repatriation is undoubtedly advisable. This done the task will be to co-ordinate existing measures and activities on behalf of returned soldiers and cxtciv.l them in such directions as may. prove necessary. A good foundation has already been laid. The State provides adequate pensions and guarantees that a pension once' granted shall not be reduced on account of any increase m the earning power of the recipient. It has assisted some thousands of soldiers to return to civil employment, and pro'vi'des yiecunhry allowances and other facilities and encouragements to men to learn new trades in order to overcome war disabilities. It has settled more than six hundred settlers on the land, and though some mistakes have been made many of the settlers will no doubt prosper. There does not seem to be any reason why the State should not assist men to engage in other businesses than fanning, and in other ways extend its present repatriation activities. But while there is wide scope for both systematizing and enlarging these activities it is to be recognised that much has already been done, and also that practical experience has made it apparent that a routino procedure under which all cases would receive common treatment is tho least hopeful method of dealing with the .repatriation problem.