SOLDIER INVALIDS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LIII, Issue 129, 4 June 1919, Page 4

SOLDIER INVALIDS

DEVELOPMENT OF VOCATIONAL TRAINING-. CONFERENCE OF VOCATIONAL OFFICERS. WELLINGTON, This Day. A conference of vocational officers was recently held in Wellington to consider many points which have arisen in connection with this important work among soldiers who are sick and disabled. As a result of a very valuable exchange ot )th© work of the Educational and Vocational Training Branch of the Defence Department will receive great impetus, and its operations will be extended.

Six months ago no vocational training

was given in hospitals, although two lady instructors had been engaged by the medical authorities to teach occupational work such as basket-making and ’eathev work in the institutions under

the Defence Department’s control. It was to ensure that soldier’s in hospital should be given, not only to occupational instruction, but also vocational training prior to their 'discharge that the special Branch was set up,,.under the control of a Director of Vocational Training. The Staff has already grown to over fifty, and as new demands for instruction come forward it is being steadily; increased. Workshops have been provided at Auckland, Rotorua, Napier, Trentham, Christchurch, Haniraer,. Ti-

maru, Dunedin, and Invercargill. Funds for this purpose and for the provision of equipment have been provided by ‘he New Zealand Red Cross Society

which devotes itself to the welfare of the sick and wounded soldier. In these hospitals instructors have been appointed to teach trades suitable to hospital patients, such as boot-repairing, carpentry, cabinet-making, motor-engin-eering, and business courses. In some hospitals instruction by way of lectures is also given in economics and civics. It has been found, however, that the soldiers usually prefer to interest themselves in vocational rather than educational work. It is the duty of the vocation officer to interview every soldier patient, and get Rim interested in his future civilian activities, and to start his before leaving the hospital. When it is realised that there are 1302 patients at the hospitals, in New Zealand, and that the out-patients number 1871, the magnitnre of the task of interviewing is ■evident, and it was not surprising to find that all the vocation officers reported that they were overworked. Assistant vocation officers have now been appointed in Auckland and Christchurch, and similar appointments are to he made in Wellington and Dunedin. Tliis extension of the staff will en-

able 'the Branch to pay special attentioi bo the needs of the soldier out-patients It is the wish of the Minister of De fence that 'these patients should b trained in the same way as those un dergoing treatment as in-patients. Ow ■ing to the fact that they only get int< ouch with the Vocation Officer* once o. twice a week, when they com© to hj hospitals for medical attention, it i. difficult to interview each mao. not going to allow the out patients to drift,” stated the Directoof Educational and Vocational Train ing “They will receive, not only medi cal’ attention, but help in the task oi preparing for their future as usetu civilians/” All out-patients are to be interviewed by the Vocation who will advise them as to the best training for civilian positions, and encourage them to take advantage of the educational facilities provided; by the Department. . , , The relations of the Educational and Vocational Training Branch with the Repatriation Department, which looks if ter the soldier upon discharge, were fully considered at the conference. A rpresenitativo of the Director of Kcpat-, raton and the Secretary of the Repatnirion Board attended a sitting of the inference, and It wa s decided to co, i’*d : nate the work so that the men who have been trained while . undergoing -nedicnl treatment may continue their education, after under ’ the direction of the Repatriation DepartIt has been, a difficult and. delicate task to introduce vocational training into the hospitals, for soldier^ invalids, like the average civilian, are disinclined to take up new activities during the restful neriod of convalescenao. Useful occupa. Bon plays an important part in Winning streneth and a cheerful mental outlook, and for Bris reason alone is a factor of great value. The soldier’s future.■ as 7 civ’liat is the subject of the Defence Department’s anxious concern, therefore rh Voention Officers—-carefully selected from.'the ranks of the returned men, with a knowledge of their outlook and a keen desire to help their old comrades—--trive to interest them in their life after discharge when they enter the competitive arena outside. “ They have to overcome the disinclination of the convalescent tr> -undertake any adtive work, and they often have to overcome his feeling of hopelessness in regard to the future. The' work was commenced without the aid or stimulus of precedent, but the conference showed that it is now well established, that the bulk of the soldiers appreciate what is being done for them, and as a result the soldier will leave hospital better equipped for civilian.responsibilities than before tile Educational and Vocational Branch was -established.

“The 'Brothers' Inseparable—Foresight .and Health.” —Stalins. Jnst a little foresight wonld save a lor of sickness, trouble, and Take this period 1 of the year, for in stance, Temperature is most inconeis tent That means coughs, colds, and sore throats —unless foresight is used hy having the Greatest of all remedies—barter’s Lung Preserver—handy. This 'tnnoch Hand has been dome rood for *lO rears. So yon see, it is tried. Get Baxter’s to-day. Bottle 2s sd.*