Ex-Servicemen's Corner BUILDING SHIPS "THE JOCKS" YEAR

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 60, 11 March 1944, Page 8

Ex-Servicemen's Corner BUILDING SHIPS "THE JOCKS" YEAR

FORMER SOLDIERS REHABILITATION made easy (By G.A.P.) It is Rehabilitation with a capital R—few questions asked and no forms to fill up. This is no fairy story. It js something that is being done —something practical—in absorbing returned servicemen into industry and into civilian life on a decent, self-respecting basis. Just on 100 ex-servicemen are to-day helping the war effort of the United Nations in the South Pacific by helping to build ships. Not one of the men was a shipwright before the war —every one of them to-day is keenly interested in the building of a ship. Their qualifications.' Just an honest intention to learn and do a fair day's job of work. Yesterday afternoon Mr. A. P. Postlewaite, president of the Auckland R.S.A., who allows nothing to interfere with his deep and practical interest in rehabilitation. paid a visit to United Ship and Boat Builders, Limited, at their yards on the waterfront. There he met the managing director, Mr. Theo. Lowe, and the works manager, Mr. Tyer, and made a close investigation into what is being done for the returned men. To put it mildly, Mr. Postlewaite was surprised. There are schemes for subsidised adult apprenticeship. There is conflict between these and labour laws on the basis ol the proportion of apprentices as to journevnien in industry. There are other barriers that, amazingly enough, stand between a man who has fought for or served his country and the right to earn a decent living. But. Mr. Lowe has ruthlessly brushed aside.all such barriers. No Subsidised Apprentices "If a man comes to me, is interested in shipbuilding and is prepared to learn, I'll give him a job," says Mr. Lowe. "Will you put him on as a subsidised apprentice to learn?" be was asked. "Subsidised apprentices be damned," is the curt reply. "I'll put him to work, even if he has never used a saw or a hammer, and I'll teach him the shipwright's craft if he's willing and anxious, and he'll be paid a tradesman's wage from the first day he's in the yard." There was a long queue stretching to the office. "This is pay day," said Mr. Lowe, indicating the workers "on parade. When asked about pay. he stated that the men would receive £9 IS/3 for a .12hour week. "And some of those are bovs who have done their bit and are learning to become shipwrights," he added. , , .. It seemed unbelievable, but there it was. One could talk privately, aside, with men who a short time ago had been enduring all the hardships of desert warfare, and some who were now on furlough, and they would confirm as a fact what at first appeared only as fiction. Ex-Servicemen's Club What is more, the returned men in the yards—that is from this war and the last—have their own ex-servicemen s club within the premises. Grey-headed Diggers of 1914-18 are teaching veterans still in their twenties all there is to learn about building ships, and teaching them ill the spirit of old soldiers. Mr. Postlewaite said he was deeply impressed, and his reaction coincided with the simple and sincere testimonials of the men in regard to their appreciation of the chance they had been given of learning a trade and at the same time making a decent living. One man was formerly a car salesman. He is now employed in the "drafting room" laving out the plans and designs for ships. There's another young Digger. "I'm proud of that lad," said Mr. Lowe, who has nothing at all 111 the right sleeve of his coat, and is doing an excellent job as time-keeper. His bookkeeping is a model of neatness and accuracy, "and that lad had simply lost heart through trying to get work, said his employer. ~ Others wield mallets on the embryo vessels, saws, adzes, hammers and other tools. One or two seemed obviously "green horns," but Mr. Lowe said that very soon they'd get beyond the novice stage, and he mentioned the deep personal interest that his foremen took in the men and their anxiety to help in every way. As to the future of shipbuilding, Mr. Lowe said he had work to keep the yards busv till 1945. They had contracts fot 25 vessels a year—there are ships on the stocks from 45 tons to 250 tons but they had sent 50 down the slips in the first 12 months. But by that time the men who- were working in the yards would be able to take work with any housebuilder, though there would always bo ships to build. He would nevei turn away a man who had served, for lie knew as a returned man with they had been through and what they deserved from their country, 'and Ive got a gieat set of boys," he added. .+ .+ + + APPEAL BOARD CASES SECOND FURLOUGH MEN Much highly appreciated assistance was afforded men of the first furlough dralt in the preparation of their cases for presentation to the Armed Forces Appeal Boards by headquarters of Auckland R S.A. Well over 100 men were interviewed by Mr. Ken Aekins, a member of the executive, who appeared gratuitously at the Appeal Board hearings for the returned men who wished him to present their cases. The R.S.A. will continue this service on behalf of men of the second furlough who wish to appeal on grounds of undue hardship, and they are invited to personally visit the association's office, Wellesley Street, without delay.

STEADY PROGRESS ALL OFFICERS RE-ELECTED It was no doubt a token of satisfaction with their work during the past year, and the steady progress maintained, that the annual general meeting of the Scottish Regimental Association, "The Jocks," returned all their officers without an election. There was a large attendance over which the president, Mr. J. S. Hamilton, presided, and an atmosphere of bonhomie characterised the meeting. The annual report referred to the growing popularity of the social activities of the association, especially the Inglesides. and the balance sheet showed a healthy state of affairs financially, the surplus assets being £235. The obiective of the association, to provide a "home" where members could meet in the spirit of comradeship based on service and sentiment, has been steadily kept before members by the executive, and as a result of the years working a sum of approximately £100 has been handed to the trustees of the building fund. Members congratulated the executive on the success of their efforts in raising the association to the strongest position, numerically and financially, that it has enjoyed for years. A short discussion took place on the question of procuring or building a hall, and proposals for social events in the forthcoming year were outlined. The first of those will be a gala night on April 22, which will be free to members and their friends by invitation, and is likely to prove a very auspicious commencement for the new term. The following office-bearers were elected: —President, Mr. J. Hamilton; vice-president, Mr. P. Graham; secretary and treasurer, Mr. 1. M. Wilson, 2, Putiki Street, Grey Lynn; committee, Messrs .T. McCoomb, J. McTavish, J. McLean, .1. B. McMillan, R. Oakman; padre, Rev. D. N. Pryor; hon. surgeon, Dr. Henderson: lion, pipers, Messrs L. Amer and J. Banks.