RETURNED SOLDIERS

Southland Times, Issue 21093, 27 May 1930, Page 8

RETURNED SOLDIERS

WORK AT PEBBLY HILLS. DEPUTATION TO MINISTER. A fairly busy period was spent by the Minister of Internal Affairs (the Hon. P. A. de la Perrelle) yesterday, when deputations were received in the Ministerial room at the Chief Post Office. The majority of the deputations were in the nature of individual calls from men seeking work at Pebbly Hills. Mr Perrelle also discussed details of the afforestation scheme with Mr N. J. Dolamore (Conservator of State Forests in Southland). A deputation consisting of Messrs J. W. Puckey (president) and Mr S. McDougall waited on Mr Perrelle on behalf of the Returned Soldiers’ Association. Mr Puckey said that the R.S.A. had collected funds through the medium of poppy sales and had placed 24 returned soldiers in work in the city. Three had been given private employment and 12 were employed at Pebby Hills. Another 14 men with dependents were in need of employment and the association wanted the Government to place these men at Pebbly Hills if that was possible. Mr Perrelle replied that he had’ already made a statement to the Press regarding what was to be done at Pebbly Hills, and the deputation could assure the association that the work was going to be gone on with. The Government hoped to put on a number of men at once and their policy was that returned soldiers should have first preference. It was only right -that the men who had fought for the country should receive the first consideration of the country. All the Government asked was that the men employed should take up the work in earnest and not cause trouble. Mr Puckey: Every man’s case is gone into on its merits, and as far as is humanly possible we can guarantee these men. The matter would be forwarded to Wellington right away, Mr Perrelle said, and he could assure them that it would receive every • consideration. ,