DISCHARGED SOLDIERS.

Digger (Invercargill RSA), Issue 11, 28 May 1920, Page 15

DISCHARGED SOLDIERS.

"WELLINGTON DOINGS. Although the war has been over for eighteen months and nearly all of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force have returned home and been demobilised, the work -of reinstating soldiers in civil life is in no way yet complete. The Repatriation Department continues . to receive numerous inqniries from discharged men in search of employment, and now that winter has come the ' officials of the Department - are anxious that employers shall not be tardy in assisting to place all unemployed men in suitable oecupations. This is the first "post-war" winter in the t-rue meaning of the term, for last winter some thousands of the N.Z.E.F. were still a-broad and peace had not received official recognition. Therefore, for this reason, alone, no effort should be spared in seeing that unemployment of discharged soldiers is reduced to the smallest extent possible, if not altogether. — Rat/e of Absorption Slowing Down. Discussing the question of employment of returned soldiers, Mr C. W. Batten, District Repatriation Officer, remarked that there appeared to be a tendency on the part of employers to slacken off in the support they had accorded the Department in the past. The rate of absorption of unemployed men was slowing down, and it was tbought that employers were "tight-

ening up a bit." "The Repatriation Boaxd wishes to acknowledge the support of employers in the past," said Mr Batten, "but, although the position. at the present moment may seem satisfactory, the Department is very anxious that no men shall be employed during tne winter. The Wellington District j. repatriation Board, therefore, appeals to all employers to assist the Department to the utmost in finding situations for men during winter months." Mr Batten mentioned that there were at present 60 names on the Board's "Employment Wanted" register. These included men who, by reason of the injuries they received in the war, could perform only lightr duties. Men in this category were being discharged f*im hospital every day and they were all anxious to do somet.hing. Some of these unfortunate fellows had the appearance of being able to undertake heavier work, but it was unfair to judge them by their looks; many big men were so unfit. that they were in receipt of full pension. Previous to the end of February last, the local office had been placing over 330 men psr month, but now the figures had dropped to a little over 280. — Employers To Be Interviewed. — Mr Batten stated that an officer of the Department was being sent round the city to interview employers direct with a view to inducing them to help the Department in its task of finding employment for all the men who applied for situations. "Nothing is more discouraging to men than to be told at the Repatriation office that there are no jobs for them," continued Mr Batten. "Any employers who have positions to offer should communicate with us at once. Although good work has been done up to the present in absorbing thousands of men, we should not rest content while one man is out of a job, and until all men have found employment the work of repatriation cannot be said to be complete."