RETURNED SOLDIERS AND FARM WORK

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 310, 25 September 1918, Page 8

RETURNED SOLDIERS AND FARM WORK

>'- ABRANGBMENTS MADE FOR. : ~ TRAINING.

j The facilities provided by the Gov- '■ ernment for the training in general • farm work' of returned soldiews who ; : : are unable to go back to their pre-war i' employment are outlined in a letter re- ', ceived by the secretary of the Auckland Returned Soldiers'- Association ! from the Hon. D. H, Guthrie, MinisIter of Lands. '' ; ;' The Minister stated that whenever a i discharged soldier unable to resume his pre-war occupation applied to the j Discharged Soldiers' -Information De- \ ■pariraent for training as a farm hand, : arrangements were made to place him ~ in employment with some practical faril mer with whom he was likely to get a ; good all-round training. A subsidy was ■granted 1-y the Department sufficient to ■assure the man a weekly income of £2 1 a week and found, and was continued, ; if necessary, for twelve months, by I which time he should have obtained a ! good general knowledge of the work.' j In May last the Department circularvised' its committees j-, throughout the Dominion, emphasising !:■ thfi ' suitability of farm work for disj: sbled soldiers, but, in spite of the inducements offered,' experience went to I show ths>t very.few of the returned men ; were willing to take positions'in the '■ country. '•■;■' '/Should you/know," added the' Min\lister., "of any. returned soldier phyI fiically able and willing to take up ■ farm work will you kindly bring the !-case under the notice of my Depart- !.. ment or of its representative in your i eity—the secretary of the Discharged .Soldiers'- Employment Committee — ! .when...the matter will receive prompt [ attention, In order to encourage men ; to go on the land, I may say that the .condition that a. disohanred soldier I. should'be itnable to resume Ins pre- !■ war occupation before he is eligible for ! training in a. new trade or occupation !; will-not be too strictly interpreted in i easesof suitable men applying for farm [..training." . '•.. .-: ....... •'. . ;