RETURNED -FIGHTERS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 284, 27 August 1919, Page 7

RETURNED -FIGHTERS

NEW EMPLOYMENT BILL IN NEW SOUTH WALES COMPULSION ON EMPLOYERS The New South Wales Premier, outlining a few days ago the provisions of thi) Returned Members of the Foree3 Employment Bill, said that the measure tvas designed not only to compel the ''re-employment of , returned sailors, soldiers, nurses, and Bed Cross workers, bub also to compel preference in general employment, other things being etjual. The two most important provisions of the Bill as drafted aro as follow:— . Other things being equal, every employer shall Rive preference in employment to any returned member of the Forces who is not excluded from the benefit of tho Act (by offences enumerated), as against any other person offering his sorvices' at Iho same time. Every returned member of tho Forces not excluded from the benefit of tlio Act, whose contract of employment was terminated or suspend- ■ ed by his enlistment, etc., and who, within'a certain period of tho day ■ of his release, applies to that employer, or his successor, for ro-cm-ployment,, is to bo. rc-employed within a reasonable time in as nearly as possible tho same position as that hold by him immediately before his enlistment. The latter provision will not eppiy , when the position previously held by the applicant is occupied by another return-, ed soldior, or where tho applicant is physically or mentally unfit. Nor will it apply where the applicant has 6inco his release committed, any act which would have justified dismissal, or where the position in question has been abolished. . ■■ ■ '.. .- In case of refusal of re-employment, on tho ground of physical or mental unfitness, or bad character, the applicant will have the right of appeal to a judgo of the Industrial Court. 1 A further preference will be given to married men. For the purpose of obtaining employ, ment for returned members of, the ForcPs, a board is to be appointed, and will be assisted by sectional committees of commercial men. All employers needing employees will be compelled, to EO to the board. There is a provision to protect emplovers who have to engage men hurriedly, in such cases as rural industries, and so on. Eight of appeal also is provided, v Another provision empowers •the board to grant temporary pecuniary assistance to returned members of the Forces'where it is unable to find employment for them. It is proposed to utilise tho service!) of tho State Governnient Labour Exchanger, and Committees. For,the purposes of the pronosed new law, a returned member of the Forces' is described as a person who, at the time of his, or her, engagement for military service, was domiciled in Hie Commonwealth of Australia, and who— (1) Has been on active service in the Naval or, Military Forces, or (2) Iβ a member of any nursin? service, ov (3) Has been on service on behalf of the British or other Pml Cross Society and similar- organisations.—Sydney "Daily Telegraph."