DISCHARGED SOLDIERS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 195, 13 May 1920, Page 6

DISCHARGED SOLDIERS

4 • MORE WORK WANTED . APPEAL TO EMPLOYERS ASSISTANCE FOR REPATRIATION DEPARTMENT Althongh tho war lias been over for' eighteen months and nearly all of the r»ew Zealand Expeditionary Force have returned home ami been demobilised, the work of reinstating soldiers in civil life ;s in no way yet complete. The Repatriation Department continues to re« ceire numerous inquiries from diechargod men in search of employment, "2 ■ ? 01V winter lias como the officials of. tho Department are anxious that employers • shall not he tardy in assisting to plage all unemployed men j, ll ' suitable occupations. This is thefirst "post-war" winter in the true nwamnsr of the term, for last winter some thousands of the N.Z.E.F. were still abroad and peace -hail not receded official recognition. Therefore, for this reason, alone, no effort should be spared in seeing, tliat unemployment of discharged soldiers is reduced to tho smallest extent possible, if not altogether. Rate of Absorption Slowing Down. Discussing 1 .the question of employment of returned soldiers, Mr. C. W. Batten, District Repatriation Officer, remarked that there appeared to be a tendency on the part of employers to slacken off in the support they had ac-cord-Ed the Department in the past. The rate of absorption of unemployed men was slowing down, and it was thought .that employers were "tightening up a bit." "The Repatriation Board wishes to acknowledge the support of employers in tho past," said Mr. Batten, "but, although the -position at the present moment may seem ktisfactory, the Department is very anxious that no men shall be unemployed during the winter. The Wellington District Repatriation Board, therefore, appeals 'td all employers to assist the Department to the utmost in finding situations for men durinp the winter months." Mr. Batten mentioned that thore were at present fiO names on the board's "Employment Wanted" register. . Thesp included men who, by reason of the injuries they received in the war, could i perform only light duties. Men in this category wore being discharged from hospital every, day and they were all anxious to do something. Some of theso unfortunate ■ fellows , had the appearance of being able to -undertake heavier work, but it' was unfair to judge them by their looks; many big men wore so unfit that they vera in'receipt of full pension. .Previous to -the end of February last, the local office had beea placing over 330 men per month, but now tho figures had dropped to a littl» over 280. Employers To Be Interviewed. ' Mr. Batten stated that an officer of the Department was bejpg sent ground tho city to interview- employers direct with a' 1 view of inducing them.to help' the Department in its task of finding, employment for all the men who applied for situations. "Nothing is more discouraging to mon than to be told at tho Repatriation office that there are no jobs for them," continued Mr. Batten. "Any employers who have positions to offer should communicate with -us at <ince. Although good work has ,been dbno up to the present in absorbing thousands of men, we should not rest content whilo one man is out of a job, and until all men have found employment the, work of repatriation cannot be said to be complete."'- ' . SOLDIERS ; DISCUSSION BY W.R.S.A. That preference of employment should bo given to returnecl sailors, 6old'iers, and nurses wns urged by Mr. A. B. Sievwright at last night's meeting of the Wellington Returned Soldiers'. Association. Mr. Sievwright moved that the follow-' ing remit be 6ent from the association to the annual conference of the N.Z. U.S.A.-.—"That the Returned SoTdiers' Association demand preference for returned sailors, soldiers, and nurses when public appointments are made, and recommends that preference be given by private employers also." "The people of thie country are beginning to "forget tho war, and beginning to forget that there were ever returned soldiers who came back from the war," said Mr. Sievwright. "I say that because it is noticeablo on all sides." Mr. 6. Snmuel mentioned, that preference to soldiers was the statute law in New South Wales, and recently an employer was fined ,£lO for failing to give preference of employment to a discharged man. ' ' . Mr. H.. Brown said that the juvenile aspect of. the question > should he' taken into consideration. It would appear that some employers were employing boys in certain' positions which could\very well be filled by discharged soldiers. Also, it had to be remembered that on some occasions the returned men were against" the trades unions and the union secretaries. It was one thing to get preference from employers, and another to obta'in it from the union secretaries. Mr. W. Bell pointed out that the matter was so important that care should bo taken to frame tho association's views in such a, way that' they would rcceivo the support of the public. ' On the suggestion of the chairman (Mr. W. Perry) it was dacided to refer (he reni'it to the association's delegates at the annual conference, with a vjew of properly co-ordinating the association's views on the subject.