REPATRIATION OF SOLDIERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 July 1918, Page 4

REPATRIATION OF SOLDIERS.

. THE GOVERNMENT'S ARRANGE. MENTS. i By Telegraph.—Press Association. , Wellington, Last Night. Sir James Allen, referring to the preparations for demobilisation, said:— are working out our own problem of embarkation of men, axms, equipment, and go on at the other end and preparing for demobilisation in New Zealand. The Defence Department will bring us into touch with the organisations already.in existence here. We have not had a inference with the Discharged Soldiers' Information Department, but this may be necessary soon, and\ other department* (Lands, Agriculture, and Education) with whjeh the soldiers nave contact may similarly be consulted.»Wo shall have to hold the soldiers for probably ?ome considerable time after the war/because demobilisation will take' time, and we shall have to utilise them in some ways. Our idea is to prepare men for subsequent civil life. Already a project at Home is in readiness for the.t purpose, and it Is very likely it will he carried owt wholly or partially. The training ,of our disabled men for new occupations hjie made progress in England, and we w?sh lo co-ordinate that work with our own. We hope to co-ordinate our work with that of the Discharged Sol.liers' information Department."

Sir James Allen was referring particularly to disabled or papally disabled men, whose repatriation would; need special attention A, for fit men. lie concluded it was hkdilv important, in their own interest*. t*o 1-rinu' them t-aok Into civilian work ns oiw-'k- a« possible lo f-icilitafp the re*»»"itinn of .'civilian wcuwUions. The Minister nwtioiwd O'-St Vi> proposed (•• lnv« e. >., o( | ,[„) „f work iw-dento! to *'■■•> dono ■■n transport', ai:<! l» "lf.'-p •T.ents for pay, leave n>ul *.n o>\ Tl>q Mini-tcr exrTPi>«»l the r«no that the public would hrln the <"i<-'..; m v, 0 i ..,,]". (li'Ts to set b-ck to eV'--, » W |; n* i-npMly as possible. Tn rD count rie* *'•(> importance i.f i„ <",.j 8 r,--.,,-,-, )\ been stressed by many yv't---« r ,j i-'peakcrs. Kneom-agii:" eor , --irsli'r;.r "i men to *|,<.ll oft' takep kindness v.-liioli would prnv» permaner.Uv injurious.