DIVIDED CONTROL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 18066, 5 April 1919, Page 10

DIVIDED CONTROL.

TRAINING OF RETURNED SOLDIERS. The special committee set up by ther Technical College Board to consider the provision of woodworking occupations for returned soldiers reported last night that the . following occupations would prove suitable for partially disabled soldiers: — 1 (1) Dowell-making, finding occupation for four men, while two other men could be employed on certain operations oonnected with it. The estimated total cost of. the equipment is £2400. (2) Production of articles by semiautomatic turning lathes for onearmed men. (3) Construction of sectional bookcases. Tho number of men thus occupied would depend upon the demand for the product, but eight or ten men -would be required to begin with. Estimated cost of equipment, £I2OO. Itt was suggested that suitable men should start a co-operative factory by tlio aid of tho £3OO capital which might be advanced bv the Repatriation Board to each returned soldier. A good business manager would also be re-i quired. who might be a returned Boldier, and the co-operator* would require general oversight! and advice from an experienced business man who would be pre- ■ pared to act in an honorary capacity. Other articles, tho committee added, might be made with small additions tq the plant. It would bo necessary fol tho Technical College to provide for the initial instruction in the use and care of tho 1 machinery and to bd responsible for geneial supervision until the men were competent. ■ The committee on metalworking occupations for returned soldiers recommended that immediate steps should be taken for the erection of an additional engineering workshop, to be used at present for the instruction of returned soldiers only, and that immediate step* should be taken to procure the necessary plant and tools for the equipment of the shop. , . , ~ The Hon John Barr asked whether the proposals had been submitted tot the Repatriation Board, Mr J. A. Black said that the two bodies were working together, and the present plan was outlined at the request of the Repatriation Board. Mr Barr said that nothing, should be done unless there was a guarantee that it would bo made use of, for he couidl see all around him many ill-digested schemes for returned soldiers, and' they were going to lead to a lot of waste. He wanted a guarantee that the scheme had the approval of tho Repatriation Board. Mr J. M’Cullough said that the Repatriation Board, acooiding to newspaper reports, was not too keen on the Technical College, because it was too far out.' The money might be spent and the board might not take advantage of it. He moved that the recommendations should be referred to the Repatriation Board, which should be asked how far it was prepared to assist the College. Mr Black said that the extensions were urgently required for the present needs of the College, but it was felt that the soldiers should, have preference ip its use. Finally the whole matter was referred back to the committee, which was reconstituted to consist of Messrs Black, Rusbridge, Jeans, Wills, M’Cullough, J. R. Hayward, GaLagan* and Cooper. (