KEENER INTEREST

Evening Post, Volume CXL, Issue 54, 1 September 1945, Page 11

KEENER INTEREST

EX-SERVICEMEN'S TRAINING

Recently there has been at noticeable increase in the number of ex-service-men applying, for trade training, says the Rehabilitation Department in its monthly review. This, particularly where training is being sought for the building trades, is a welcome development, since besides satisfying a .serviceman's vocational needs, it also helps solve the nation-wide housing problem. As demobilisation steps up, the Rehabilitation Board expects that even greater interest will be shown and that applications for training will increase accordingly. As an example of the increased interest it is stated that in Auckland there were recently on hand applications from 95 ex-servicemen who wished to train as carpenters, 21 who wanted to take the painting, paperhanging, and glazing course, 12 ■■ the bricklayers' course, and 10 the plasterers' course. To meet these requirements a new carpentry centre will be opened at Auckland, and it is also planned to commence classes in the three other trades mentioned, possibly by the beginning of October. At present these latter trades 'are taught at the Petone centre only, but plans are under way to teach them not only at Auckland, but also at Christchurch.

By the end of July 3570 ex-service-men had been approved for the various forms of trade training. Of-these 2793 were men returned from overseas service and the remaining 777 Were demobilised home service personnel. Those under training at the Department's full-time training centres at the end of July numbered 732, A fur-; ,ther-~188 >were ..at,-that-d.at^;..at^the^&ifej fererit branches of .-.■ the Servicemen's Re-establishment League, while 793 were being trained with private employers on a subsidy from the Rehabilitation Board, and there were 332 men who had resumed or revived pre-service apprenticeships under somewhat similar subsidy arrangements. .

The number of servicemen who had actually completed training in one or other of the various forms offered was 908, while counting all categories 515 men had discontinued training because of ill health or for other reasons.

A further 288 ex-servicemen were approved for trade training under the Department's schemes during July. In that month 123 commenced training, and 49 completed their courses.