REPATRIATION OF DISABLED SOLDIERS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 4816, 13 March 1918, Page 6

REPATRIATION OF DISABLED SOLDIERS.

GOVERNMENT’S PROPOSALS' DISCUSSED.

DEFENCE COMMITTEE’S * • SUGGESTION.

The Prime Minister’s proposals with regard to the training of disabled soldiers in a trade for which they are fitted, were discussed at a special meeting of the Defence Committee yesterday afternoon. the proposals published in the Times of last Wednesday. The chairman (Mr W. G. Slierratt), in explaining the purpose of the meeting, said lie had read the 1 remier’s letter but, as far as he could see, it was a matter between the Labour Department and the. employers. He did not think the part of the Defence Committee would be very hard. It would be required to give assistance in finding work for disabled soldiers who were willing to learn a new trade. , , Mr It. M. Birrell asid he had been acting as the local agent for the Discharged Soldiers’ Information Bureau for some time and he regretted to say that the returned men did' not take full advantage of. the assistance and facilities offered. H e pointed out that this was not an industrial district but an agricultural and pastoral one, and there were not man v opportunities for teaching a disabled soldier a trade. The bulk of them wanted light employment hut they did not have the necessary qualifications, and lie could not blame an employer for refusing to take such a man for, say,, clerical work, when ho had no training. the Government had offered tc| give men training and employment iu \Y clini,-, ton but they couldn’t in many cases leave the district. Another disadvantage was that they had not received that assistance from the Eiliciency Board the v were led to expectHowever, the best had been done to place the men. He considered the proposals to be matters more for tiie employers and suggested forwait mg them on to the Employers 1‘ edeiation. Another disadvantage was the difficulty of procuring dogs for men who desired to take up droving. The Chairman: Why, I have seen one with no fewer than eight dogs. Mr Birrell maintained that there was a difficulty in securing suitable doo-s and the matter of a supply should be kept in view.. Then motor transport was the coming mode ot conveyance in this district. He thought that arrangements might be made 5 with local garage proprietors to teach returned men motor driving, also a knowledge of machinery repairing. The Committee should assist in .every way possible to develop the scheme. Mr G. B. Oman said that the otter of Government assistance might' encourage some disabled soldiers to learn a trade. The Committee could assist by making inquiries to see how much labour could be utilised. Mr G, W, Humphreys said the question was one of the most important of the day. If the able-bodied soldier knew that his disabled comrade was being well looked after it would create a finer spirit later on. Tire matter was one which greatly affected Patriotic Societies which had raised large sums 0 f money for disabled soldiers. It was the public s first duty to look after the disabled soldiers. Mr Humphreys went on to refer to the careful training and medical attention required in treating disabled soldiers. They required constant supervision and treatment and some could, not exercise liioie than an hour some a little moreIt would bo under the circumstances, not favourable to the recovery and training of a man who was not fully recovered to be employed in factories. He thought that something more should be done and he suggested that the Minister should be written to asking the High Commissioner to acquire the services of a number ot experts to be employed in the repatriation of disabled soldiers. Mr H. Ken way said that the suggestion seemed to be wrong. The soldiers in their training would need the services of an expert to guide them in their work and training. It was impossible to obtain the best results if, during their training, thev were employed in factories. In his opinion, to get the best results from the Premier’s proposals, there should be some central place where men who needed further training and medical treatment cou,ld be placed under the supervision of experts. He thought that two central places should be selected, one in each island. The Patriotic Committees could be asked to subscribe, provided the Government subsidised. At those homes the disabled soldiers could continue their treatment and would also receive training in the tracie they were best fitted for. and then they would- be in a better position to woik under the Premier’s scheme. _ Mr J. W. Bright said he could no, agree with the last two speakers. He thought the proposal was a practical one and should receive the support or Patriotic Societies. He, understood that the proposal was for men who were as fit as they would be and were able to take up a trade. He could not see what better training one could receive than in a practical manner. The Government would subsidise their wages so that they would be independent and would not, lose their self-respect- He thought the Committee should approve ot the proposal and do all it could to cany it out. Pie moved in that direction. Mr Kenway said that if what Mr Bright had said was correct, it altered the position entirely. ■ Captain Pitt said that some or the men would never be able to take up work. He thought there was a good deal in Mr Ken way's suggestion. He was quite ip agreement with Mr - Bright that the land would not oe sufficient for all. and the reference made by Mr Bright about the registrations to the Minister for Lands only went to prove the contention or the Hoturned Soldiers’ Association that the soldiers were not being put upon good land and were not bein o advanced sufficient money. He seconded Mr Bright’s motion. 'Phis was carried. , Mr Kenway then moved:— l iar we suggest to the Government that two main centres be selected one .in each island, and that medical training establishments should be a-iran g ed for, more especially tor such invalided soldiers who need fuithei specialised medical treatment that if the Government favours the suggestion Patriotic Societies be circularised ’as to their willingness to sub scribe to a fund to be established and subsidised by the Government to obtain the results advocated m this resolution.” i,i- „,, n Mr Humphreys seconded this proposal. HoMaid it was one which he liacf advocated in some sort oi form for a long time. Mr Birrell said the Government had been trying to grapple with this prob- ( lem but without much success. Gisborne was not an industrial place, it was an agricultural and pastoral community and its calls would not be very -great. They would do all they could to help the scheme along. The motion was carried. Captain Pitt said that in order to give effect to the Premier’s suggestion the Committee should ask the employers to assist. They might be able to do' so by notifying any openings that might arise. M r Bright said that if that were done* without the Government’s sanction, there might be trouble with the labour unions. Others members thought it advisable to wait till the Government made a move. The meeting then terminated.