RETURNED SOLDIERS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 April 1941, Page 4

RETURNED SOLDIERS

REPATRIATION MEASURES GOVERNMENT PLAN. • OUTLINED BY MINISTER. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. The Government for some time has been actively investigating detailed work, which can be set in hand now or planned for the repatriation of returned soldiers and simultaneous expansion of New Zealand economic activity, and also for the absorption of workers who will no longer be employed in war-time occupations. A statement to this effect was made by the Minister of Finance, Mr Nash, reporting on post-war reconstruction, expansion and repatriation to the annual conference of the New Zealand Labour Party in Wellington last night.

The following developments were necessary and could be put in hand if the requisite planning was done now: Irrigation schemes; schools and hospitals, a heavy building programme; further hydro-electric development; two major railway works; river control schemes; land settlement (several estates already purchased as a commencement); iron and steel industry, rubber tyre and sugar beet, involving substantial direct and indirect employment. Linen flax factory employment could be increased 50 per cent; if the secondary manufacturing establishments were promoted, further employment would be provided; forest management, both of exotic and indigenous forests, could absorb greatly increased numbers of men for urgent work; to utilise our exotic forests additional sawmills would provide further work; the establishment of a national pulp and paper mill, of new commercial exotic forests and of erosion control would necessitate the employment of a large number of men for many years. “Plans were already in hand for the above schemes and are dependent on finance, and in some cases the importation of equipment from overseas,” said Mr Nash. “Many returned soldiers,” he further observed, “will not want to go into indoor occupations —factory or office or servicing—and will want to go farming. To meet this possibility, farm training plans will need to be in readiness. Other returned soldiers may wish to work in businesses which may involve the establishment of new concerns and also some measure of Government financial assistance. The necessary step here is the setting up of a soldiers’ re-establishment committee or repatriation council, representing returned soldiers and the productive groups in the community, to assist the Government in planning for the placing of returned men into our economic and social life. This requires the comprehensive examination of suitable facilities, administration, operation, equipment and so on. Other things being equal, returned soldiers should receive some degree of preference in respect of State employment.”