TRAINING INVALID SOLDIERS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 214, 4 June 1919, Page 6

TRAINING INVALID SOLDIERS

VOCATIONAL OFFICERS CONFER

EXTENSION OF HOSPITAL INSTRUCTION

The vocational officers appointed to supervise the vocational training of invalid soldiers conferred recently in Wellington. The Director of Vocational Training presided, and some important extensions of the work among fioldicre iii hospitals and convalescent institutions were arranged. Hospital workshops have now been provided ait Auckland, Rotorua, Napier, Trentham, Christchurch, Ilanmer, Tim»ru, Dunedin, and Invercargill. Funds for this purpose and for the provision I of equipment have been provided by the I New Zealand Red Cross Society, which ilevoles itself to the welfare of the sick and wounded soldier. In these hospitals instructors have been appointed to tench trades suitable to hospital patients, such las boot-repairing, carpentry, cabinetmaking, motor-engineering, and business courses. In some hospitals instruction by way of lectures is also given in economics and civics. It has been fouiid, however, that the soldiers usually prefer to interest themselves in vocational I rather than educational work. I It is the duty oFluelocal vocation of- ' ficer to interview every soldier patient, : nnd get him interested in hie future civilian activities,' and to 'start his train- ' ing before leaving the hospital. There . are 1302 patients at the hospitals in New ; Zealand, and the out-patients number ; 1871. All the vocation officers reported that they were overworked. Assistant ' vocation officers hove now been appointed in Auckland and Chrislchurch, ind similar appointments nre to be made in Wellington and Dunedin. This extension of the staff will enable the branch to pay special attention to the needs of : the soldier out-patients. It is the wish |of the Minister of Defence that these patients should be trained in the same way as those undergoing treatment :>s in-patiente. Owing to the fact tint they only get into touch with the vocationofficer once or twice a week, when they come to the hospitals for medical attention, it is difficult to interview each man. "We are not going to allow the outpatients to drift," stated the Director of Educational and Vocational Train- ' in?. "They will receive, not only inediIcal attention, but help in the tusk of I preparing for their future as useful wil- ' inns." All out-patients are to be inter- : viewed by the vocation officers, who will advise tliem as to the best training for civilian positions, find encourage them to take advantage of the educational facilities provided by the Department. The relations of the Educational and Vocational Tminin? Branch _ with the' I Repatriation Department, which looks ' after tho eoldier upon discharge, weM fully considered at the conference. A representative of the Director of Repatriation and the secretary of the I!e----i patrintion Board attended n sitting of the conference, and it was decided to coordinate the work so that the men who have been trained while undergoing med- • ical treatment may continue their education, after discharge, under the direction of the Repatriation Department.