EMPLOYMENT SCHEME

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1006, 24 June 1930, Page 8

EMPLOYMENT SCHEME

ARRANGING LIGHT WORr FOR EX-SERVICEMEN^ “CORPS OF COMMISSIONAIRES” Unemployed ex-servicemen Auckland are to form a Cor B , Commissionaires, an orgamsatinto Have available for employ” men whose character has approved by the controlling body the corps. It is proposed to have a uniform r men of the corps employed i n dvu similar to those of liftmen and ir‘ s sengere. The scheme is sponsored by Auckland Returned s>old;.'rs* Ass—' ation. In a statement, the ation remarks that, in view ofV 1 increase of unemployment to the t>* 0e portions of a national problem to i solved only by the co-operation of »■„ Government and the citizens. specially interested in the welfare ° S ex-servicemen had joined together an effort to alleviate the position coif ccrning a large number of unempk-v ' ex-servicemen in the City. Mos- / the men were of good character, w good service records, but, because v Uieir war services, age and othecauses, had not been able to find SUr ‘ able employment either in the City f the country. Many of them were not able to ta advantage of the relief given throuen the Government Labour Bureau because they were incapable of heavy work of the nature of that hJ. volved in Government relief wortf The only' solution for them was Ugh* labour in Auckland. This could b done only' with assistance of the Gov. ernment and private employers. The association’s proposals were to obtain this co-operation by arranging with the Government und the employ, ers to agree to absorb as many exservicemen as possible us caretakers, liftmen. nightwatchmen. Porters, attendants and other positions of labour in Government department* business firms. theatres or pubU, institutions. GRADUAL EMPLOYMENT It was realised that these positions were being filled at the present fin* and that the unemployment problem would not be solved by uiscnargtng present employees and replacing them with ex-servicemen. The association did not suggest this course, but only the gradual tilling of the positions aa they became vacant with ex-service-inen engaged through the proposed Corps ot Commissionaires. Inquiries are already being made by the association on the probable support for the scheme. The association is expecting an indication at an early date of the number of positions of the nature suggested vacant at the present time. The name of the subsidiary’ organisation has not been decided definitely. It may be the Kx-servicenient’s Bmployment Association or the lax-service-men’s Civil Re-establishment League on the lines indicated by the rtcet: Government commission. Among Luc conditions suggested are a written agreement between employer and employee, the replacing of a man who, through sickness or other reasons, cannot carry out his duties by another commissionaire, and the depositing oi 10s a month in the bank, with an agreed contribution to the sick and general fund, by each member of the organisation while employed.