BOOT REPAIRING

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 262, 4 November 1944, Page 7

BOOT REPAIRING

PEACE-TIME WORK

EX-SERVICEMEN TRAINEES

An indication of what can be achieved in the face of adverse conditions, and also of what might be done under improved facilities, is given in the fact that three of the trainees in boot repair work under the Disabled Servicemen's Re-estab-lishment League, in Hereford Street, Newton, are being launched in businesses of their own and, according to latest reports, are giving every satisfaction. The men are trained during a six months' course and the league assists them to obtain businesses of their own in localities or towns considered suitable, and where there are reasonable chances of success. Pour Years Overseas One of the three men served overseas for four years and was with a tank regiment in the Middle East. He was wounded in the right leg and could not follow his pre-war occupation. He commenced a course of training at the Government footwear school, but found that the standing involved was beyond his endurance, his wound "breaking out." He applied to the league for assistance and agreed to take a course in boot repairing, which did not entail constant standing. When he had completed the course, and was looking for a place to start business, the league received 4 an offer from a prominent member of the R.S.A. at Raglan, offering his boot repair business on generous terms if a suitable trainee was available. The ex-serviceman knew the district and took the necessary steps to get rehabilitation assistance to purchase the business. He applied for a loan and, after going through a prolonged procedure, found that 1 the terms and conditions involved would throw a heavy handicap on him. In the end he decided to throw his own entire sayings into the business and for additional plant required. He opened business early in September and reports at the end of October showed that he was receiving very favourable public support and had ample work to do.

Maori Takes To Repairs A young Maori, who was with the famous Maori Battalion for 18 months, was badly wounded in the left arm, left leg and left shoulder, and when he returned to Kawakawa a considerable amount of public interest was taken in his welfare. were made for him to start in business if he could be trained. The matter was referred to the league, which undertook to give him the necessary instruction. Having completed the usual six months' term, he was given an extra month on saddlery work, which is very useful in the Kawakawa area and a gainful adjunct to footwear repair. He has purchased some of the necessary plant from his own savings, but will be financially backed by the people of the district and will open his venture very shortly. Difficulty Finding a Shop""""": A third trainee, who served three; years with the Divisional Cavalry and suffered a foot injury, arid wishes to set up business in a suburban area, has been unable to do so because of difficulty in finding a suitable shop. At present he is employed in a North Shore business, but it is hoped to procure suitable premises for him in the near future. Reports from his employer •speak highly of, his ability and the quality of his work. At the moment there are 13 trainees. Besides boot repair work they spend some of their time learning surgical boot making as well as the business side of the industry. In regard to surgical boot making the league has received an inquiry from a southern hospital board for the services of a trained ex-service-man for whom they have constant work. The trainee engaged will be supplied with accommodation' for a; married couple and in view of the amount of work requiring to be done a suitable ex-serviceman is being given accelerated training to enable him to fill the position at the earliest possible date.