The Chronicle LEVIN. TUESDAY, JUNE, 26, 1917. RETURNED SOLDERS

Levin Daily Chronicle, 26 June 1917, Page 2

The Chronicle LEVIN. TUESDAY, JUNE, 26, 1917. RETURNED SOLDERS

I'roni Clio office of the Attorney-Gen-eral for New Zealand The Chronicle has received it brochure setting out the ease and needs ol' the returned soldier as a class, with especial reference to after-war conditions. The Attorney-General intimati*; in the l)i ;chure that he will recommend to his Government as follows: —First, that, a substantial sum of money be provided for the purpose of undertaking works of utility which discharged soldiers can be usefully employed. Second: that the Public Works Department be directed to pre pare 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 lam not certain, but I imagine that the Lands Department could perhaps employ as foresters or gardeners at tihe State nurseries, and could initiate such work as bushfelling and preparing land for settlement. Fourth: that the local bodies of tlie Dominion be requested to prepare schedules of work which they could undertake with the consent and

under the supervision of the Government ; but that no such work be commenced until the advisers oi v tile Government have certified that the works are of public utility, that they are of a nature upon which -discharged soldiers can bo usefully employed, and that the general soreme has been approved by them. Fifth: that the law be altered to enable local bodies to obtain advances with the consent of the Government advisers and without the consent of the ratepayers for the purpose of undertaking works which tho Government or its advisers cossidor to be in the public interest, and upon which discharged soldiers can be usefully employed. Sixtli: that in connection with the works mentioned in the preceding paragraphs all preliminary specifications can be completed forthwith, so that works can be put in hand immediately hostilities cease if the necessity for the work arises. It should be noted that the works indicated above will crciite | employment of roadmakers, engij neei's, railroad makers, carpenters, plasterers, buslifellem, gardeners, i'oretcrs, bridge builders, bricklayers, \|uiporhangers. fencers and general laborers. To carry out the scheme some legislation will be required, and it would be necessary to 'appoint ia committee of experts, for wo have no *

engineers or contractors in tho offico of the Discharged Soldiers' -Information Bureau. * Hie foregoing scheme, if given full effect, should 'bo highly ameliorative, ■hut it will need hacking 011 tho part of every community if justice is to bo done to the clear right of the soldiers to a full measure of such prosperity as undoubtedly has come to New Zealand, while tile soldiers have been absent 'fighting the empire's 'battles. This matter is referred to by the At-torney-General in his concluding remarks. "I hope," lie says, "that it will be understood that any scheino to improvise employment which tho Government may decide upon will-be intended to supplement only the natural supply of work in the Dominion. We hope and expect that all discharged soldiers will be speedily and comfortably provided for in tho normal industrial and commercial life of the country. I look to the merchants, the bankers, the fanners, the traders, the manufacturers, and to large employers like the Public Service Commissi oner and the General Manager of [Railways to come forward with offers of assistance later on. They have already assisted generously and wilingly, but later 011 the Discharged Soldiers' Information Department will be compelled to make earnest appeals to them for further help. T. 7