WORK FOR SOLDIERS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 822, 16 November 1929, Page 8

WORK FOR SOLDIERS

PROBLEM STILL EXISTS further efforts needed A suggestion that the Government and other organisations concerned in the work of providing health-g ving occupations tor returned soldiers should continue their activities with the co-opera-tion of all classes of tne community, was made by Sir James Gunson, president of the Auckland Provincial Patriotic and War Relief Association, when giving evidence before the Returned Soldiers’ Rehabilitation Com sion at the Town Hall yesterday. He advocated the subsidising of labour in both town and country to enable employers to use the services of men not capable of normal effort or output, and stimulation of New Zealand industries by revision of the customs tariff. Sir James said the Auckland Patriotic Association commenced its operations in 1915 with funds aggregating £450,000. and its funds have nowbeen reduced approximately to £120.000. practically the whole of which was held in the “A" fund for the relief of sick and disabled returned soldiers and their dependents. Since October. 1915. when the first contingent of wounded soldiers tvtion had dealt with 22.500 cases, of whom it was estimated 2«\o©o wrrre returned soldiers and 2.600 dopend- ; ents. SHOULD BE CARRIED ON He was of opinion that the results achieved by the Repatriation Depart ment and the patriotic societies of the Dominion had in some cases been j undervalued, and that the problem of today obviously did not arise from the needs of the men who had been satisfactorily settled through these channels. By wise ami capable reestablishment of agencies of a similar kind he considered the same problem could be successfully dealt with at the present day. He said the trouble appeared to have arisen from the assumption, both by the Government and organised‘bodies dealing with patriotic questions, that about, seven years ago the problem bad been satisfactorily ; solved, and that there was no need ;of a continuance of the work that ! since 1915 had been successfully ear- ! ried on. Outlining means which he thought might be adopted to cope with th* problem. Sir James Gunson suggested I a scheme of subsidised farm labour j not confined to any one class of «agrii cultural interest, with an appeal to all agriculturists for co-operation and | support. The subsidy to the employer j should be determined in the light of i the man’s ability to render a par- , ticular class of service. Similar subsidised employment was suggested in regard to clerical and j indoor occupations. This would enable suitable light employment to be provided by employers, who now, on economic grounds, might be unable to do so. With regard to industrial occupations, he suggested that a revision of the customs tariff, with a view to stimulating the manufacture of goods in New Zealand, would bring about a large increase in the volume of employment. In reply to Mr. E. H. Sharp, secre- | tary of the Auckland Returned Solj diers’ Association, Sir James Gunson i said the relief association's adminis- | tration was definitely designed to ex- | tend help to men whose disabilities j it was satisfied were due to war ser- | vice, although they might not. be able | to secure recognition of this from the ! Pensions Department. Mr. A. G. Lunn, past-president of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce ; said if a sound aud economical scheme ! was brought into operation it would I undoubtedly receive the full support I of the chamber. CORPS OF COMMISSIONAIRES Mr. William Slaughter, officer in i charge of the Auckland office of the Department of Labour, spoke in sup port of the formation of a corps of | commissionaires, as suggested by the I committee of the Returned Soldiers’ ! Association. He was of opinion that I this could be done without seriously uudermiuing the principles of unionism, aud, if properly handled, | such a sc heme w ould enable the men concerned to regain their self-respect l and self-reliance, and enable the majority of them to earn a living without making any serious call on the ! Government in the shape of subsidies. He thought that no scheme for absorbing these men in private employment would meet with any great success. The formation of such a corps would go far toward solving the problem of prqviding work for men fit only for work of a casual : nature, such as gardening, hedge * clipping, window cleaning, washing pri- ■ j vate motor-cars at private houses and i business premises. ■ The members of the commission ini spected the Evelyn Firth Home yes- ’ i terday afternoon and this morning | visits were paid to the Jubilee Institute for the Blind, the Veterans’ Home ; and the T.B. shelters at the Auckland Hospital. It is expected the sitj tifigs of the commission iu Auckland ’ | will conclude on Monday. - '