POST-WAR ENTERPRISE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 April 1943, Page 4

POST-WAR ENTERPRISE

ABSORPTION OF FIGHTING MEN WIDE STUDY IN CANADA. MANY PROPOSALS ADVANCED. OTTAWA, March 11. Across Canada public authorities are exploring ways and means of finding post-war work for the returned men. In both the Senate and the House of Commons a committee has been appointed to study national schemes of social and health insurance. Before the Reconstruction and Re-establishment Committee Of the House of Commons today, the Minister of Pensions and National Health, the Hon. I. A. Mackenzie, urged that every community should organise citizens’ committees to assist discharged members of the forces on their return to civilian life. The conservation of Canada’s great wealth in natural resources as a means to rehabilitation of the war veteran was considered at a meeting of the Dominion Command of the Canadian Legion last night, which was attended by four members of the Cabinet and a large body of members of Parliament. Dr. R. C. Wallace, Principal of Queen’s University, Kingston, suggested a widespread survey of Canada’s forest wealth as the first step. Such a survey was a job which could be undertaken by Canada’s returned airmen. Other means suggested were: Research work similar to that undertaken by Russia, the opening up of roads to help lumbermen, the training and financing of prospectors in the new technique of locating ore. rural electrification, and restocking of wild life. The Nova Scotia Government proposes to pave every travelled highway in the province after the wav. .The Minister of Highways in Ontario is asking municipalities throughout the province to name committees charged with preparing lists of post war public works. Business men’s organisations are similarly active. The Canadian Chamber of Commerce, through its national headquarters in Montreal, is urging boards of trade and chambers of commerce throughout the Dominion to lead the way in forming citizens’ committees on post-war reconstruction. A committee of the heavy industry is being formed to formulate plans. Points listed for preliminary investigation include; how to convert new war plants to peace time use, how to get the maximum use and value from new techniques and fabrics developed during the war, how to prevent the destruction of building materials on the market by indiscriminate dumping of salvage material from disused war building, the establishment of air ports, modernisation of combustion and heating plants, underground transit, elimination of the level crossing, encouragement of immigration, land settlement, . parks, playgrounds, and reservation projects.