LIGHT WORK WANTED

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 135, 4 December 1929, Page 6

LIGHT WORK WANTED

DISABLED SOLDIERS

SCHEME BEFORE COMMISSION

(By Telenraph.)

(Special to "The Evening Post.")

CHKISTCHUKCH, This Day.

"Community, organisations, havingas their object the repatriation of exsoldiers, huvc failed," said Mr. W. Stewart, Commissioner of Crown Lands in Canterbury, , when giving evidence before the Kehabilitation Commission. He added that for thoso not already settled farming offered little hope of success, and better results would be obtained by training men for light industrial work.

[ The. Lands Department, said Mr. j Stewart, had already acquired areas for community soldier settlements close to the main centres. The majority of the failures had been in that class of settlement. Anything in the nature of community organisations had not been successful. His experience led him to support the criticism that the economic pension tended to prevent recipients from undertaking even that small amount of remunerative employment which would assist towards rehabilitating the pensioner. Dr. W. Aitken, who was formorly in charge of the Upper Sanatorium, Cashmere, and had under his care 806 returned tuberculosis soldiers, suggested to the commission that an employment officer should bo appointed to help tuberculosis pensioners to find suitable work. ' That officer, ho said, would keep in touch with employers, and would try to place men in suitable positions with due regard to disabilities. Thero appeared to be amongst employers v. certain amount of prejudice against taking on men' who had been under treatment. Sometimes fellow employees themselves created difficulties with no justification. An employment officer would be able- to overcome these objections by interviewing employers and obtaining a more sympathetic attitude towards the pensioners. From the officer's knowledge of those requiring work he would be able to place men in positions according to their capability and temperament. Failing the establishment of aa employment officer, "care committees" should be set up in each of the larger centres. They would carry out voluntarily the same duties as those of an employment officer, and by interviewing business men and keeping in touch with them arrange for employment of pensioners. Care committees and aftercare committees had been set up throughout England as part of a scheme to assist war pensioners in securing employment. -

"Prom my knowledge," Dr. Aitken said, "there is need for similar committees in New Zealand."

The establishment of village or industrial settlements has been brought forward as a means of relieving unemployment amongst returned men. From what Dr. Aitken saw of village settlements for tuberculosis people in England, he is definitely, of opinion that they would not be a success here. He said that the- colonial temperament was quite unsuited to village or industrial settlements.