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PREPARING FOR EMPLOYMENT AFTER…

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PREPARING FOR EMPLOY- MENT AFTER THE WAR. A DUTY TO OUR SOLDIERS. That the war will be long is conceded by all, but even the dreadiest pessimist does not be- lieve it will rival the hundred years war, or even the seven years war. Some time next year, or the year after, our millions of men will come back to find the country admirably organised for the output of war material for which there is no longer a demand, but by no means adequately pre- pared to absorb their labour in commercial work. That will not be because there is no demand, for during the interval since Peace fled aff ri gh ted from Europe wear and tear has been going on all over the world, while in many parts of the Continent it has been reinforced by all the agents of destruction which ingenuity can devise. If we could gauge our future by the demand known to exist, we need feel no fore- bodings. But, unfortunately, it is only the demands of those who are able to pay that count, and after the destruction of thousands of millions of pounds' worth of goods and property, capital must be very scarce for a time. Nevertheless, work will have to be found for our men when they return. It is unthinkable that those who have spent long weeks in freezing trenches, and who have faced shot, shell, and poisonous gases on our behalf, should be allowed to starve when they come home. It will be as urgent a national duty to find them employment at decent re- numeration then as it is to furnish them with cartridges and shells now. Bat unless we look forward to the future, and organise for peace far more care- fully than we did for war, we shall find ourselves in the same straits as we have been in regard to munitions, and shall have to adopt measures that will be far from economical to carry matters on while the transition from a nation under arms to one following the persuits of com- merce is being effected. Men returning flushed with victory cannot be kept for long wit,h the Colours, and since it is most undesirable to dismiss them to their homes with allowances for an indefinate period, work must be found for them all. If money has to be raised for the purpose, it should be expended, as far as possible, upon undertakings to be carried out in this country.

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BARMOUTH PROOF.