AFTER THE WAR,

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 12 July 1917, Page 3

AFTER THE WAR,

STATEMENT BY THE ATTORNEY-

GENERAL

[Continued from last issue.]

BINDING EMPLOYMENT. Next comes the question, How is suitable employment to be found for all the men who return after the war ? It is certain that the process of demobilization will be gradual, and the speed with which it will be accomplished will depend upon the transports available. But whether demobilization be fast or slow, the work of finding the men employment must proceed systematically. When peace is declared we shall find approximately fifteen [ thousand men in our local camps, or in transports in port, or in transports near New Zealand. The men may get leave for a short period, but as soon as that leave expires the local employment market will be inundated with this large accession of material. Ido not anticipate that there will be any great difficulty in arranging for the employment of these men. They will be in good health ; they will have but recently left employment. Most of them will return naturally to their former occupations, and those who cannot be disposed of in that way will probably find their services readily requisitioned because of 'the scarcity of labour in the country. IN THE TRANSITION STAGE. But, whatever happens, many discharged soldiers not within the category just mention, are bound to look to the State for assistance to obtain a suitable means of earning a living, and it will be the plain duty of the State to find it for them. The first draft? ! to return may become absorbed j in the normal life of the Dominion without the helping hand of the State, but it is certain that when the last contingents set foot in New Zealand the problem of placing them satisfactorily will become serious. By that" time the normal demand for clerks, farm and station hands, tradesmen, labourers, and others who have service to offer may have been satisfied, and then will arise the need, for artificial employment to tide the discharged soldier over the transition stage between leaving the Army and obtaining civil worh through the natural gateways. Until the gateway opens for the soldier it will be the duty of the Government to look after him, and this can only'be done by improvising work. I will iudicate what I think should be done, and what I propose recommending the Government to do. First, That a substantial sum of money be provided for the purpose of undertaking works of utility upon which discharged soldiers can be usefully employed. Second, That the Public Works Department be directed to prepare a schedule of works of public utility which if put in hand will afford employment for discharged soldiers. Third, That a similar direction be given to the Lands Department. On this point I am not certain, but I. imagine that the Lands Department could employ men as foresters or gardeners at the State nurseries, and could initiate such work as bushfeUing and preparing land for settlement. Fourth, That the local bodies of the Dominion be requested to prepare schedules of works which they o©uld undertake with the consent and under the supervision of the Government 5 but that no such work be commenced until the advisers of the Government hare certified that the works are of public utility, that they are of a nature upon which discharged soldiers can be usefully employed, and that the general scheme has been approved by them. • ■ Fifth, That the law be altered to enable local bodies to obtain advances with the consent of the Government or its advisers, and, without the consent of the. ratepayers, for the purpose of under^ ! taking work which the Qqverni ment or its advisers consider to • be in the public interest and upon [ which discharged soldiers can be _ I usefully employed.

_ Sixth, That in. connection with the works mentioned in the preceding paragraphs all preliminary preparations such as the drawing of plans and the settling of specifications be completed fortrr with, so that the wqrk,s can be put in hand immeditely hostilities cease if the necessity for the work arises.