REPATRIATION

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10607, 4 June 1920, Page 10

REPATRIATION

VIEWS OF SOLDIERS. RECOMMENDATIONS ADOPTED. Matters affecting the repatriation ol rchurned soldiers were considered at the annual conference of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association yesterday, when it was resolved to place the follow ing recommendations belore the department ;

Sustenance. —Sustenance grants for men for whom suitable employment cannot bo obtained. That the scale bo raised, vla.Man and wife, 555; man and wife and one child, 63»; man and wife and two children. 70s; man and wife and three children, 755; man and wife and four children, 80s. The committee • urge that when a soldier, on his discharge, has applied continuously for one week tor employment, and no suitable employment has been found, he should at once be entitled to sustenance until suitable employment Is found. Apprentices.—That, when a married man is completing his indentures under this scheme, the sustenance scale, and not the £3 as flat rate, should apply. Subsidised Workers. —That the Repa triatoin_Departmeut bo requested to increase the allowance to subsidised workers to bring their wages up to ul least A 3 10s for single men and £i for married men, as the present allowance is quite inadequate in view of the high cost of UVing. That in the event of renewal of subsidy for further period beyond the usual twelve months, the subsidy should be based on the starting wage and not on the wage which the trainee is earning at the time of renewal, providing that the wages with subsidy shall not exceed the maximum. In view of' the fact that subsidies are paid monthly, and that thereby many trainees suffer undue harshlp because they are unable to meet their weekly obligations, that when necessary arrangements be madciwith the employer to pay the full amount* due every week, and that a cheque for the subsidy be forwarded to the employer every month. Claims of the Fit Men. —Unskilled men : These should bo eligible for tram ing in a trade under the subsidised wages scheme.

Dying Trades: That men whoso trades tiro dying out owing to industrial I engross bo eligible for, training, under tlie subsidised wages scheme. (1) Mon discharged as fit. but who contend thev are not, in fact, in the same physical condition as they were before enlistment. Those men should bo allow cd an independent medical examination, at the expense of the department, as to whether a change of occupation is desirable. (2) Mon whose former trade has become unsuitable owing to war service should be eligible for training under tho subsidised wages scheme.

Men who have lost opportunity by war service.