RETURNED SOLDIERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 February 1916, Page 5

RETURNED SOLDIERS.

AS 'JNDER-RATE WORKERS. AN INTERESTING POINT. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Feb. 15. A special meeting of trade unionists last night considered the Ordcr-in-Coun-eil providing for tho suspension of those provisions of any award or industrial agreement which prescribe the conditions of employment, of nnder-rate workers and apprentices, and the provisions of the, Arbitration Act so far as they prevent or restrict, the employment of any discharged soldier. It was resolved: That in the, opinion of this meeting there is no real need for the method of the contemplated Order-in-Couiieil as, in practically every award in existence, partially incapacitated or elderly workers are entitled to an under-rate permit. Whether intentional or otherwise, we fear that the effect of tho sell" me now nnt forward would be to direct the prrsion awarded to a soldier because of wounds into *l.c- pockoSa of the employer. We Tfgard tho whole scheme as unfair to the discharged soldier ar.d his civilian fellow-worker and consider that the only people who would bo benefited would be the employer who, with the assistance of the Government, would reap a harvest of cheap labor at the ejjpsnse of tli? returned soldier. The opinion of labor orgauisujioa e !vill be wiVwl liejore March IS,