TRAINING FOR SOLDIERS.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 140, 13 June 1919, Page 3

TRAINING FOR SOLDIERS.

TECHNICAL CLASSES. -TORKING UNDER DIFFICULTIES. GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE NEEDED The good work that is being done by the returned soldiers attending the classes at the Technical College and the disabilities under which they are working were brought before the" notice of a number of members of Parliament and others yesterday afternoon, when a visit of inspection was paid to the rooms at which the classes are held. «The part" comprised Hon. A. M. Myers. ActingMinister of Finance. Messrs" J. A. Young, A. Harris. C. H. Pooie. and A. E. ("lover, members of Parliament, Hon. E. W. Alison, Messrs. A. J. Entrican, G. \V. Murray. C. R. Munro, and H. S. W. King, members of the Technical College r.oard of Governors. Messrs J. S. Rutherford and J. McLeod. of the District Repatriation Board, and Captain G. Elliott, president of the Returned Soldiers' Association.

The party was taken through the three rooms, in which these classes are being held, by Mr. George George, principal of the College and chairman of the Industrial Committee of the Repatriation Board. There are at present some 24 returned men taking the class in motor mechanics, and the various branches of the work that is being done were shown to the visitors by the instructor (Mr. E. H. Burbidge). The disabilities under which these classes are conducted have to be seen to be realised. The men are cramped for room, the appliances at their disposal are totally inadequate, and the accommodation in the way of dressing rooms leaves much to be desired. Moreover, the lack of accommodation is interfering to some extent with the ordinary classes at the College, as both boys attending these and the returned men have to use the 1 same workshops, increasing the congestion to a still greater extent. The need for improving this state of affairs was urged by the men at present receiving instruction. They agreed that the tuition was excellent, and pointed out that if better conditions were provided more could bedone, and the classes enlarged. The only other soldiers' class is that in commercial science, which is being held in Rutland Street. These classes have been started by the Repatriation Board, and "it is 'through the goodwill of the Technical College Board of Governors and the principal t> room has been made for them at the College.

£10.000 WANTED. Mr. George, in putting the needs of the men liefore the visitors, said that they really wanted about £40,000 to do all that was required, but they wanted £10.000 at once, the proposal" being to add to the present buildings. A shop for working sheet metal was urgently required. They also required boot and shoe machines. Some of these thino-s were asked for two years ago in order to provide for the increasing number of returned men, but the application was turned down. Lathes were also wanted Those being used at present were old and not capable of doing some of the work that was required. This meant that when the learner got beyond a certain stage he was handicapped when attempting to do work that required a great degree of accuracy. If the appli ances were there, and the room was provided, the classes would ranidlv ptow and extend. Already they "had many men waiting on the books who were anxious to start without delay He pointed out that the instruction in motor mechanics was of a comprehensive nature, and was thoroughly taught Replying to Captain Eliott, Mr, GeoW •aid they had been trying to obtain the money for the necessary extension since 5915, but nothing had been done till the repatriation Board came into existence, early in the present year. The Board started with the Technical College equipment as a temporary measure. Captain Eliott: It "simply amounts to this: The training is three years too late.

Mr. George: Yes. ENTHUSIASM ANT) EFFICIENCY. Hon. A. M. Myarj said he was greatly impressed with the work that was being done at the Technical College in the way of training men who had returned from the war. and also in training the young people of the city, who must ultimately take their part in the industrial community. He recognised that the work was not only of local importance, but of national importance, because in view of the heavy obligations of the country, every member of the community should be made a useful citizen. They need have no fear for the future if every man and woman was able to do something useful. Enthusiasm and efficiency were the qualities that were needed "in this connection. If they were really enthusiastic about their work, efficiency would follow, it did not matter whatGovernrnent was in power, they could extend tneir assistance to nothing more productive of good than technical classes generally. With repard to the application for £10,000, Mr. Herries had already intimated that he would go into the "matter with the Minister of Education, and everything possible would be done to see that the request was given favourable consideration at the earliest possible opportunity. He would support Mr. Herries to his utmost ability in this matter.

Mr. A. Harris said he felt sure the Government was in full sympathy with the scheme, and would do all in its power to assist these men to get "Dae*!: to their former vocations.

or NATIONAL IMPORTANCE. Mr. .T. A. Young said it seemed to him that the repatriation *o| s Mdiers should be a charge on borrowed money and not on current revenue. The Government had great facilities for borrowing money, and this question should be looked upon as one of natijnal importance. The returned soldier would k'arn more at these classes than in the ordinary workshops, and would speedily become ft useful citizen to the community. He rwonimended that a definite syllabus or plan of work be laid down so that the student, when taking up any phase of engineering, would know exactly the course oT instruction, he would have to take. The matter would receive his fullest support.

Mr. A. .T. Entrican said he was convinced that it was a.-ways best for a man to return to his former vocation if possible. Much of the present difficulty, he h»ld, was due to the refusal of some employers to reinstate their old employee-. It was the duty of the Board to prr-ss for the trrant of £10.000, so that t!ie work could be extended.