The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1919-01-06

With Same Spirit With Which War
Work Was Taken Up.
When the war started the perma-
nent army of Canada consisted of
good.sized police force of $500 men
and a series of militia units devoted
largely TO ceremonial parades. In the
space of time which outsiders have
characterized MS remarkably brief the
country was transformed to II war
footing, 10000 men were raised,
equipped and sent overseas and n mu-
nitlons industry was rapidly developed
on extensive lines.
Today. when the benediction of
peace settles over n belligerent world,
the Dominion faces problems Of mag.
nitude scarcely inferior to those OF
the war. Rehabilitation of the forces.
REIMBURSEMENT OF industry TO n peace
basis, provision for the homecoming
aud settlement Of soldiers, employment
Of labor displaced by peace conditions
and also after-war finanee-these con-
stltute complicated problems to which
the country Is now addressing itself.
Problems of Rea6justment.
For the last fortnight in the Cana
dian capital there has been an activity
second only TO that in 1914. Military
authorities dealing with demobilza-
tlon, manufacturers considering the
adjustment of trade conditions. rail-
way men planning to resume their sus-
pended constructive activities, labor
men graphing with the questions of
dfter-war adjustments. were first here
in n series of government conferences
and these were followed by joint con-
ference between the federal and the
local governments Of all the provinces.
Projects are now well under way to
meet the new order Of things.
The forces intended for overseas
service now in Canada are to be demo-
biized as soon rs possible. They num-
Der about thirty thousand. Those over
seas are being brought hacl; On 4 sys-
tc,natic plan.
4 problem coiucident with deinObili-
zation and for the prese nj attracting
fully as much attention, IS that Of ma
tional reconstruction following the
war. A lot Of muniiion plants are
shutting down, many Of them engaged
on United States orders. To a degree
which was not anticipated, however.
these manufacturers are turning TO
other lines, aud the displacement of
labor according TO government re-
ports, is considerably below expecta-
ton.
Those who have studied the problem
and consideration was not left until
peace came-have reached the concu-
sion that Canada's economic salvation
and the sustenance OF her industry on
the lines of present development lie in
building up an export trade. What the
country could do when put TO the test
was revealed in the munitlon business
Seeks Reconstruction Orders.
\ trade commission has been sent
over to London, headed by Lloyd Har
ris, who was chairman OF the Cana
dian war mission at Washington. Mr.
Harris is millionaire manufacturer
with Il reputation rs a olive wlre' il
getting business. II is asserted tina
he directed something like 100000,
900 Of American business to Canadian
muuition channels.
Mr.. Harris IS now going overseas t
endeavOr to repeat the performance
il Is assumed that reconstructing tn
devastated areas will call for heavy or
ders for all sorts OF material and Can
ada hopes 10 be in on what is goinI
on. A central commission at Ottuw;
is being constituted to allocate TIT
business that is now in prospect an,
10 work in close cooperation with tn
London body.
The munitions business from the al
lied governments, in which Canad
shared so generously. came not $
much on the basis of competition "A
upon the country's capacity to delive
the goods expedltiously at fair prc,
The same system II is expected, wi
be applied in respect to the busines
arising overseas in connection with +,
construction.
With regard TO the returned soldier
the projects Of the government provid
for their being placed TO consider;
bile extent ON the land to increase pr,
,. duction. Vast areas in the West M
TO be opened up. For land purchase
the soldiers will puy 10 per cent dow
and the rest gradually in 20 year
Each man will be given loan up [
$1,000 to buy implements and furnish
n ings
Preparations also are being made Il
1. land settlement of immigrants gene
!, ally. They are 10 be assisted joint
f by the Dominion and the provinces. VI
II ward of one hundred and twenty.fil
n thousand soldiers have intimated the
" desire to 20 on the land, but from Il
p propaganda now being carried ON It
%. expected this number will be mOterla
A. ly increased.
There Is to be, moreover, n systel
ID OF national technical education dlrec
ID ed by the provinces and sustained
frderni urnntS Vocational srhools n,