DISABLED SOLDIERS

Evening Post, Volume XCIV, Issue 51, 29 August 1917, Page 7

DISABLED SOLDIERS

TEACHING NEW ACTIVITIES

A SCHEME OF EQUIPMENT.

(PROM OCR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

LONDON, 10th July.

Mr. I. W. Raymond (Invercargill), as a member of the executive committee and dhairman of the Hospitality Committee of the New Zealand War Contingent Association, has taken a keen interest in the question of technical training for disabled soldiers.

In an interview with the London cor respondent of the Evening Post he said

"There is no more pressing pioblem awaiting solution. It is not one that can be pigeon-holed until after the war, but must be faced now, and dealt with, j The men are not only wasting valu- J able time, but idleness begets habits not conducive to their well-being. The fact has to be realised that our limbless and functionally weak men have the greater part of their lives still before them. They can do much to help themselves, but the State must show them the way and give them all the help possible, so as to encourage them to acquire a calling that will preserve their independence. The men themselves have to consider whether their future years are going to be spent in moderate comfort and independence for the benefit of themselves and their country, or whether they are merely going to stagnate. They feel keenly the loss they have suffered, and' generally are rather ' fed up' with things. " I have -had several interviews with them collectively, and they seem quite satisfied that the Govei-nment is most desirous to fit them out with the best artificial substitutes obtainable, and will do whatever else is reasonable in their interests. There is. however, a conflict of interests which tends to shroud the true perspective. As bed space in tho hospitals is scarce, it is natural that the 'hospital authorities wish Ssuch cases as these moved on as speedily as possible. On the other hand, it is most desirable that these patients should have the best attention while having their limbs fitted, and this can best be done at Oatlands. It is a fatal mistake to hurry the men to the Dominion before their artificial limbs have been thoroughly tested. As apart from the severed limb, the ordinary health of the patient is usuaJly good, and after a little time in hospital they are anxious to have some sort of light occupation which they can do in bed, such as making baskets, -etc. As soon as they are able to walk about, and while waiting for their limbs, they should be given the means of acquiring proficiency in a calling tliat they can "turn to profitable account on their return. I go further, and say it is theduty of the Government to keep these cases here until they have acquired proficiency, providing they diligently exert themselves and are favourably reported upon. They then return to the Dominion skilled in some branch which will ensure their earning a good living. PRACTICAL STEPS. "With the object of giving practical effect to the above views, certain members of the Executive of the N.Z.W.C.A. personally saw General .Richardson, and offered to find the necessary amount to erect a suitable school of instruction and provide instructors. This was over six months ago. The matter hung iire, but recently the offer has' been renewed, and General Richardson is now co-operating with the N.Z.W.C.A. to give effect to the scheme. The difficulty was that the authorities had no intention, of compelling the patients to engage in any occupation, and they themselves did not seem disposed to do so voluntarily. There were, moreover, many minds among the patients as to .avocations'they might engage in, and the proposition was rather hedged round with difficulties. "In a conference with General Richardson I expressed the view that as a civilian and personally known to a good many of the patients, I should discuss matters with them. This is readily assented to. He had had several con- [ ferences with them, and they expressed to ma their appreciation of the trouble he was taking on their behalf. In Col. Adand and Col. Mill also the patients have two officers who are most anxious to further their interests in every way. When I met the men at Oatlands I pointed out their personal obligations to. do everything possible to keep themselves in healthy employment while waiting for treatment here. I, assured them that the authorities and the N.Z.W.C.A. would halt at nothing that would place within their reach the power to become proficient in some avocation that would enable them to earn a livelihood apart from their pension. I further assured them that the fear which some of them had expressed, that their future earning capacity might be used as a lever to reduce, their pension, was groundless, but on that they could obtain a definite commitment from the Prime Minister. I stated that I proposed to throw the responsibility on the patients themselves by asking them to appoint a committee of seven who would confer with their comrades and submit a workable scheme, whereby the offer of the authorities and the association could be fully availed of. This they r^resd to do, and I was glad to observe quite a new interest on the part of the patients towards the proposal of extending assistance to them. I am very hopeful- of a practical outcome of the present efforts."" Since the above interview, Wd a meeting of the Executive of the N.Z.W.C.A. Mr. Raymond (who was acting chairman in the absence' of Lord Phmket) stated that 60 men had indicated their willingness to take up certain work. Col. Acland had sent him a list of the equipment necessary, and he had obtained an offer for the erection of a building at a cost of £700 He recommended that a special committee be appointed to look after this work, which was done, and £1000 was voted so as to enable the committee to proceed at once.