THE DEMOBILISATION PROBLEM.

Hokitika Guardian, 31 July 1918, Page 3

THE DEMOBILISATION PROBLEM.

STATEMENT’ BY SIR JAMES ALLEN.

WELLINGTON, July 29,

Sir James Allen, referring to the preiparations [for demobilisation, said:

“Wo are working out our own problem of the. embarkation of men t arms, equipment, and so on at the other end, and preparing for the demobilisation in New Zealand. This scheme of the Defence Department will bring us into touch with organisations already in existence here. We have not yet had a conference with the Discharged Soldiers’ Information Department, but this may be necessary soon, and the othej Departments (Lauds, Agriculture, and Education)', with which the soldiers have contact may bo similarly consulted. We shall have to hold the soldiers for probably some considerable time after the war, because the demobilisation will take time, and we shall have to utilise them in some ways. Our idea is to prepare flic men for subsequent civil life. Already a project at Homo is in readiness for that purpose, and it is very likely that it will bo carried out wholly or partially. The training of our disabled men for now occuptions has made progress in England, and we wish to co-ordinate that work with our own, Wc hope to coordinate our work with our own. W< hope to co-ordinate our work with that of the Discharged .Soldiers’ Information Department. Sir James Allen was referring particularly to disabled or partially disabled men whose repatriation would need special attention. As to fit men, Sir James concluded it was highly important in their own interest to bring them back into civilian work as quickly as possible. To facilitate the resumption of civilian /jeeupatibns, the Minister mentioned that lie proposed to have a good deal of the work incidental to discharging done on the transports—arrangements for pay, leave and so on. .The Minister heartily expressed a hope tht the public would help discharged soldiers to get back to civilian work ns rapidly ns possible. In nil countries the importance of speed in this process had been stressed by many writers and speakers. The encouraging of comparatively fit men to spell off indefinitely was a mistaken kindness, which could prove permanently injurious.