The Dominion TUESDAY, APRIL 8, 1919. THE WORK OF REPATRIATION

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 166, 8 April 1919, Page 6

The Dominion TUESDAY, APRIL 8, 1919. THE WORK OF REPATRIATION

Facts and' figures have been published during the last few clays upon which it is possible lo base a fairly clear, though general, impression of what has to be accomplished in this country under the her.d of repatriation. As it is outlined the position gives food for serious reflection. Thus far the machinery of the Repatriation Department seems to have worked, upon the whole, well and smoothly. But in the near future it will be subjected to a very much severer test than has yet been imposed, and how far it is capable of meeting the extraordinary demands in prospect remains to be seen. The inevitably exacting nature of these demands is bast realised by glancing at the statistics relating to the return of soldiers from the front. A Departmental return issued last week showed that up to the end of March close upon 1)9,000 soldiers had returned to the Dominion. This total covers the whole period of the war almost to.date. Now that the repatriation of fit men is in full swing, approximately as many soldiers as have returned home during the last four years are due to arrive in about as many months. Counting the ten thousand men due to aiv rive this month, there are just about 40,000 of our soldiers still to come home, and it is expected that few of them will be left abroad by the end of June. ' It happens somewhat unfortunately that this rapid homeward movement of our troops is due to occur just at the period of the year when seasonal industries, and therefore the total scope of ordinary employment, are at a somewhat low ebb. Evidently all that has been done hitherto by the Repatriation Department and satellite organisations is child's play compared with what must he accomplished during the next few months if the. interests of soldiers and those of the country arc not to suffer. It hardly needs to be argued that this ereat problem is one in which civilians are closely interested, for their own sakes as w.ell as on behalf of soldiers. If the. problem is in any way ineptly handled the penalty will not ■ tall only on soldiers, but will be felt heavily and universally all over the country.

The repatriation problem will only begin to appear in its final scope when it is seen what proportion of the fit men returning from the front are able to satisfactorily resume their place in civil life without State assistance. It is certain in any case that the number of soldiers needing assistance of one kind or another will be far larger during coming months than it has ever yet been in a given time, and that activities on their behalf will have to be extended and expedited accordingly. Although the tide of repatriation is only beginning to attain its full volume, there is already an accumulation of men on the waiting list. Some are n-pnlicants for rural holdings, which have yet to be supplied; others , are undergoing trade and business training} others, happily not vory numerous, are simply listed as unemployed. Two things seem to bo urgently necessary in order that serious trouble may be averted. One is that repatriation should by taken up whole-heartedly as a national enterprise, every useful agency at disposal beinir freely drawn upon; the other is 'that the Repatriation Department should concentrate upon the main and essential features of the scheme it is appointed to administer, and that secondary features, however commendable in themselves, should be strictly subordinated. Any general tendency to regard repatriation as the business and concern only of the Penatriatidn Department and subsidiary organisations should be rigorously discouraged. Apart from the- fact that practically every individual in the country has a duty and an interest in seciner that solfliers are restored to civil life undor good conditions', it is imperatively necessary that the Government and local bodies should promptly institute a policy appropriate to the conditions of the repatriation period. This applies with particular force, of course, to national 'development works and to municipal and harbour improvements, nnd so forth. The best way to limit unemployment- and avert wasteful expenditure is to open up productive works in town and country in the greatest possible variety, so thnt all classes' of workers amongst the returning troops or those whom they may displace may bo offered suitable employment. Besides holding ■ a substantial credit balance in the Public Works Fund, the Government in good time earmarked a sum of two millions to bo expended, half bv the Public Works Dcnartment, and hnlf by local bodies, during the repatriation period. Before now more should have been heard both from the Government and from local bodies than has been heard about orderly plans for the allocation and expenditure of this money, and further resources which can be made ! available for definitely productive and developmental activities.

It is not more necessary that the. repatriation problem should be attacked comprehensively by all who are capable of contributing to its solution than that thn Repatriation Denartment should concentrate its

activities to the best advantage. It would be optimistic tn assume tint its resources will enable it speedily

termed, all the demands that wiJI be made upon it during the 'busymonths that lie ahead. The only rational course, therefore, will be to- meet the most urgent needs as they arise, and let . others take second place. The broad principle which must- guide the action of the Department is apparent. Its essential function is to enable soldiers with as little delay as possible to resume their place as productive workers, and the main current of its activities must aim at passing as many soldiers as possible directly

into suitable employment. This, of course, does not menu that trade and business training and financial assistance to soldiers to enable than to purchase homes or set up in business must be abandoned as , demands upon the Department increase. Assistance on these, lines cannot be extended indefinitely, however, regardless,, of the primary necessity of linding suitable and acceptable employment for all the men who need it. It is bare justice that any returned soldier who is capable of appreciably bettering his position in life should be assisted to do so. But every care should be taken to avoid wasting time and resources on nst-'k'ss training and to deter men from attempting to enter occupations for which they are not adapted. There is much scope here for tactful work by the local organisations created to assist the Department. Then while it is highly desirable that as many soldiers as possible shiiukl be enabled to acquire their own homes, the Department is nn-'i , ;- urgently called upon to_ assist thus," whose primary need' is employment.

The best of all ways to provide for the returned soldier, assuming li 3is possessed of % thp necessary qualifications, is to settle him on a country holding. Unfortunately it is in this category that demand seems likely to most seriously overtax available resources. Soldiers to a considerable number ' have been established on the land, but th? waiting list of would-be soldierKc'itlcrs is long, and seems be growing. With fit men returning at the rate of ten thousand or more a month it must be expected that it will extend rapidly as time goes on. It goes without .saying that every ftffdrt should be made- to satisfy the land-hunger of but there arc formidable difficulties to be overcome as a result chiefly of the high prices , at which land,must in general be acquired for this purpose. The matter is one upon which the Government should hasten to throw all possible light. At the moment it is difficult to gauge the position even approximately, but one satisfactory feature is to be noted. Not a few landholders arc voluntarily cutting up their estates and selling farms to settlers. It is, of course, very desirable that subdivision on these lines should be actively continued. Unless the demands of soldier-settlers arc largely met in this way—the Government, of course, affording financial assistance—it will evidently become necessary to greatly expand the existing scope of State land purchase.