TRAINING FOR TRADES

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 282, 28 November 1929, Page 14

TRAINING FOR TRADES

n . RETURNED SOLDIERS. :f '' SCHEME OUTLINED. s a "BEST EVIDENCE HEARD YET." a t t (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) g CHRISTCHURCH, Wednesday. s Evidence which the chairman described * as "the beet we have heard yet," was 5 given before the Disabled Soldiers' l Rehabilitation Commission to-day by Mr. * Francis William Hc*bbs. Mr. Hobbs is a member of the executive of the Canterbury Patriotic Fund, a member of the . committee controlling the Rannerdale » Soldiers' Home, a past-president of the [ Canterbury Employers' Association, and i a former member of the Canterbury Disi trict Repatriation Board. "From many years of experience on organisations," said Mr. Hobbs, "I am of opinion that some change is needed , from the present system of economic , pensions. Two important points arise in considering this matter, aafd they are whether it is less expensive to the State to meet the needs of these men by continuing the system of economic pensions, or whether it would not be much better, both for the men and the State, even if it is more costly, to rehabilitate these men and make them capable citizens. I am of opinion that the cost of the latter would not be much greater, and even if it were so, the financial loss should have no weight as against the greater benefit of rehabilitation. "The methods to be adopted to attain this economic restoration imply the following: (1) Completion of training of partially competent tradesmen. (2) Unskilled men to be trained in occupations which do not require a long appren-. ticeship. (3) A special labour bureau for ex-service men. (4) Establishment of workshops and industries suited to men who have physical disabilities. "I think that the reopening, in a modified form, of the Repatriation Department should be authorised, witl» headquarters in Wellington. An office should be opened in each of the four main cities, the system to be confined to these four centres until it has been well tested. Men in the smaller centres could, in urgent cases, be transferred to the main centre for training. An advisory committee of six good business men should be set up to control the activities in each of the four centres. "The work of the district office would be to control points 1, 2, 3 and 4. The capital for the establishment and equipment of the workshop must be a State charge, but it is important that the development of the industries should be on a sound commercial basis so that they may, in a considerable degree, be selfsupporting. To secure this it would-be advisable to appoint a directorate from the advisory committee and other business men. "The selection of suitable industries is confined to somewhat narrow limits. Particular attention should be given to occupations which can be developed into industries which the worker can develop in his own home, at minor capital cost."