DISCHARGED SOLDIERS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 251, 17 July 1919, Page 6

DISCHARGED SOLDIERS

« ._. TRAINING SCHEME' EXTENDED WAGES COMMITTEES TO BE SETUP Amending regulations dealing with the training and employment of discharged soldiers in industries and the granting of assistance to discharged soldiers whilst so employed were issued yesterday. They embody some provisions and powers that have been found to be necessary for the effective working of the repatriation scheme. The "Repatriation Department may arrange for the employment and training of discharged' soldiers in any industry or any branch or branches thereof, and max pay' to any such discharged soldier by "way of subsidy- under these regulations an amount equal to the difference between his wages and .S3 per week. The payment of 0. subsidy under these regulations shall not bo affected by any increase in wages during the currency of permit, or by any pension that has,been tor may be 'granted to such discharged soldier or his dependants under the AVar Pensions Act, 1915. For the purpose of fixing the rave of wages to be paid from time to time to a discharged soldier who is being trained under these regulations there shall be constituted, as required, a wages committee, consisting of three members, one being a representative appointed by the union concerned in the award or industrial agreement, one being the employer or a representative appointed by him, and the third being the permit officer or a representative appointed by him. Application by a discharged soldier to be trained and employed may be made to a, 'district repatriation officer On receipt of any such application the officer shall cause inquiries to be made, and if il appears to the industrial committee of the district in which the applicant resides that the applicant is a suitable person to be trained, and that the industry or the branch or branches thereof in which enjoyment nttd training are sought by the applicant are such that, having regard to Ihe applicant's education and his physical condition, and having regard to tho .ability of the proposed employer to afford suitable training, the applicant may be expected to attain a. reasonable degree of proficiency, tho chairman of a repatriation board or local committee may approve the application.

When an application has been approved tho chairman will issue to the applicant a temporary permit to be employed and trained in the industry, or in one or more branches thereof, at such rate of wages as the wages committee considers the applicant, may be able lo earn. Such temporary permit shall continue in force for one month, but. may 1m extended for a further month by tho chapman.

If at any time before tho expiry of Uio temporary permit by effluxion of time tho applicant desires and the employer is willing to continue the training and employment, the chairman shall after giving the union concerned in the award or industrial agreement a reasonable opportunity of expressing its views, issuoto tho applicant a permit to bo trained and employed in the industry, or any branch or brandies (hereof, for a period not exceeding twelve months, and at such rate of wages as may be agreed on by tho wages committee. The rate of wages to be paid to such applicant shall 'bo reviewed by the wages committee quarterly. During the currency of such permit it shall be tho duty of the employer to teach, and the duty of the; applicant to learn, the. work of the industry or 'branch or branches thereof specified in the permit, and such duty to teach and to learn as may bo prescribed in the award or industrial agreement for apprentices shall apply to the employer and the applicant. During the period of (raining the officer shall deduct from the subsidy payable to the applicant under clause 2 hereof the sum of ss. per week, and upon the completion of twelve months' training, or at such earlier date as the applicant shall have satisfactorily completed his training, there shall be paid to the applicant the amount of the subsidy so retained. The period of training is to be limited to twelve months, but in cases where further training is deemed necessary the discharged, soidicr may make ;i fresh application. If the applicant seriously misconducts himself or is repeatedly absent from his duties, the employer may notify tho chairman, and if such complaint is sustained 'he chairman may cancel the permit.

A "discharged soldier" for the purposes of these regulations means a discharged soldier who is incapable of working efficiently at his previous occupation by reason of disablement contracted during his period of military service, or whose opportunity of learning a trade has been obviously "affected by reason of military service.