RETURNED SOLDIERS DISMISSED

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 192, 10 May 1921, Page 6

RETURNED SOLDIERS DISMISSED

A CHRISTCHURCH COMPLAINT.

By Telegraph—Press Association

Christchurch, May 9.

A deputation of returned soldiers waited on Mr. Lendley, secretary of the local branch of the Returned Soldiers’ Association, and stated that approximately twenty returned men employed as casual labourers in the Christchurch goods sheds had been dismissed, while immigrants who had been in the country only a month or two were kept in employment. Mr. Leadley has sent a telegram to the Hon. D. H. Guthrie embodying this statement, and saying the association looked to him to give preference of employment to returned soldiers. AN OFFICIAL DENIAL. La tor. Mr. Stringloman, District Railway Traffic Manager, characterises as nonsensical the allega’lion that returned soldiers have been dismissed from the Christchurch goods sheds whore they have been employed as casual labourers, and that are being kept in employment. THE MINISTER INQUIRING. The Minister of Railways (Hon. D. H. Guthrie) is inquiring into the complaint that returned soldiers have been dismissed from the railway service while at. the same time places have been found for newly-arrived immigrants. The trouble is due in part to the fact thnt for some time the Department has been short of skilled artisans in various branches, while on the other hand it has been taking on unskilled returnod soldiers as casual workers. Immigrants of the artisan class have readily found employment in permanent positions, which were open to any similarly qualified returned soldier. Reductions of staff naturally have affected the casual workers first. The Minister is investigating specific cases that have been brought under his notice.