RETURNED SOLDIERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 31 May 1921, Page 5

RETURNED SOLDIERS.

FINDING WORK FOR MEN. PLEA FOR HIGHER PENSIONS. THE DOMINION CONFERENCE. By Telegraph —Press Association. \'.\ iington, Last Night For the returned soldiers’ conferer.co several associations intend to 'bring .:>■

the question of unemployment amongst returned soldiers.

Canterbury suggests the appointment of an employment committee for the purpose of keeping a close watch on the' unemployment situation during the coming winter, taking steps to provide relief for distress amongst returned soldiers. Canterbury asks that in all cases where returned soldiers are unable to obtain employment through no fault of their own the Government be urged to instruct the Repatriation Department to pay sustenance allowances until work is obtained. Wellington desires that immigrants should not be allowed to enter the Dominion while returned soldiers are out of work.

Regarding the employment of exsoldiers in the public service, Canterbury has proposed the following: “That this annual Dominion conference congratulates the Hon. J. G. Ccates upon his determined stand to give preference to returned soldiers in all departments under his control and to issue instructions that as far as possible no returned soldier should be discharged, and recommends that his splendid example should oe fob lowed by all Cabinet Ministers and employers generally throughout the Dominion.”

There are fifteen remits on the order paper dealing with land matters, including one from Auckland suggesting that preference be given returned soldiers in the supply of timber for building materials. Wellington is anxious that the Government should put into operation the compulsory clauses relating to the £6,000,000 loan, in order that the balance of the money may be raised at as early a date as possible. “That the war regulation protecting returned soldier?- from ejection from rented properties be extended for a further period of twelve' months.” is the form of a remit from Canterbury. ’ In regard to pensions eleven rem’ts will be tabled, the chief of which ask that the pensions scale should be increased ..by 75 per cent in order to meet the increase which has taken place in the cost of living since the present; scale was decided on in 1915. The “white New , Zealand” question is raised by Auckland and Canterbury, both of which submit remits urging that the immigration of Indians and Chinese should be stopped, as their presence constitutes a moral and economic menace.