EX-SERVICEMEN

Grey River Argus, 8 September 1945, Page 7

EX-SERVICEMEN

IN TRADE TRAINING WELLINGTON, September 3. Recently there has been a noticeable increase in the number of exservicemen 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 nationwide housing problem. As demobilisation steps up, the Rehabilitation Board expects that even greatei’ 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 othei’ trades mentioned, possibly by the beginning of October. At present these latter trades arP 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 departmen’s full-time training centres “as at the end of July numbered 732. A further 188 were at that date at the different branches of the Disabled Servicemen’s Re-estab-lishment League, while 793 were being trained with private employers on a subsidy from the Rehabilitation Board and there were 332 men who had resumed a revived pre-service apprenticeships undex* 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 ox’ for othei’ reasons.

A further 288 ex-servicemen were approved fdx’ trade training undei' the department's schemes during July. In that month 123 commenced training, and 49 completed theii’ courses.