VOCATIONAL TRAINING FOR SOLDIERS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3384, 22 January 1919, Page 61

VOCATIONAL TRAINING FOR SOLDIERS.

PROGRESS OF THE SCHEME

; The officer in charge of educational and ! vocational training for returned soldiers has ! completed his investigations in the Auckland district, and is now in the South Island, accompanied by Colonel Christie. His preliminary report upon the prospects in Auckland is of an encouraging nature, showing a keen desire on the part of the medical and educational axithorities to facilitate an urgent and valuable work for tho men who have done so much for the dominion and tho Empire. Occupational and vocational training for the men in hospital is thoroughly approved bv the medical officers at the hospitals. They consider such a scheme urgently required to prevent tho mental and physical apathy which is so marked a charactenst.c of the soldiers in hospital. They are of opinion that regular occupation for tho mind and body will be an important factor in ensuring the speedy recovery of the soldiers, who suffer not only from, bodily disabilities, but from tho inevitable reaction after the excitement and strain of active service. Though a good deal _of practical work is already being done the general lines of the scheme are still being shaped or modified as conditions require. For instance, the methods of selecting a soldier's new occupation were fully discussed with the medical and educational authorities in Auckland. It was considered desirable that the soldier, shortly after his arrival in' hospital, should, if he is fit, be again interviewed by a medical officer and a vocational officer supplementing similar-inquiries made in England, and that the question of his future occupation should be considered both from a medical arid a practicable point of view. It is essential that a soldier's mind should be turned towards his future pareer as Boon as possible, and that onco his occupation has been decided every facility snould be given, both in providing technical books and by vocational training, to arouse his interest in his future work, laying a, foundation of knowledge which might be completed after discharge. • Occupational subjects come first in the list, anfi arrangements have been made to give instruction to the soldiers in Auckland Hospital in basket-making, carving, leather work, repousee work, and also, if need arises, for needlework, knitting, and embroidery work. Gardening is considered a very suitable occupation for the men, and it is hoped that Mr Pearson, the City Council's gardener, who is an enthusiast on the subject, will be able to take classes and instil into the invalided soldiers an interest in flowers and trees. Photography is also a subject which can be taiight with advantage, and arrangements to do this in Auckland are in train. A limited amount of carpentry has been done in the Auckland Hospital annexe under the segis of the Red Cross Societv. A permanent instructor has been engaged. An instructor in boot repairing is to be provided, and other subjects which will Erobably be taken up are architecture and uilding, signwriting, and levelling and surveying. , JL ... There is a great scope for the soldier in farming, and it has been arranged that Colonel Lyons, District * Superintendent of the Department of Agriculture, shall organise and compile instructions for the courses. He considers that the most suitable subjects in this course would be as follows:—(1) dairying, (2) agricultural farming, (3) bee farming, (4) poultry farming, (5) fruit farming, (6) sheep and cattle (breeds and management), (7) stud stook, (8) pigs, (9) horses, (10) diseases, (11) soldiers' settlements. Major Grant, Deputy Superintendent of Auckland Hospital, has undertaken to lecture on horsemanship and stable ment. If a class ie required for wool sorting, Mr George George, Director of the Technical School, who is giving very valuable aid to the scheme, will arrange it. Among tho returned men there is a great demand for instruction in typewriting and shorthand, which at the moment it is found difficult to meet owing to a shortage of instructors. To show the demand for this class of instruction, the officer-inrcharge of vocational training mentions that some months ago 40 soldiers at the Auckland annexe signed a_ petition asking that they should receive instruction in bookkeeping and similar subjects. Then there is the important aspect of improving the general knowledge of soldiers in hospital. A number havo already asked for opportunities of doing this during the enforced idleness of convalescence. Some are in the position of requiring a certain amount of study to qualify for the matriculation or civil service examinations. It has therefore been decided to engage for "the Auckland men a tutor whxKwill ■ ,give his whole time to this important work. Arrangements have ..been made for organising classes in university subjects. In the work in Auckland, the Returned Soldiers' Association has been consulted, and asked to assist, and the response has been, thoroughly satisfactory. The offioer-in-ch&rgp of educational and vocational training is carrying on his work throughout New Zealand, organising the scheme on the lines indicated in this summary of his preliminary report.

WORK ON A TROOPSHIP. (Fbou Oub Own Cokbkspondent.j AUCKLAND, January 10. "I cannot speak too highly of the educational work carried out by Sergeants Menzies and Johnson during the' voyage," said Lieutenant-colonel Colquhoun, D. 5.0., officer in charge of the draft of soldiers who reached Auckland by the Maunganui yesterday. He was referring to classes in economics, steam, engineering, book-keep-ing, shorthand, and general commercial subjects conducted by these two non-commis-sioned officers on the -voyage from England. He said ho regarded this aa one of the features of the voyage, and of immense benefit to many men who were seeking Information on subjects which would assist them on their return to civil life. Excellent work was also being done by Lieu-tenant-colonel Stewart, who is in charge of the educational gcherfle started in London for the vocational training of New Zealand soldiers. The ship carried a library containing many technical works, whioh hod been supfilAect in London, but it was neither large nough nor sufficiently extensive for the wide range of subjects on which soldiers made Inquiries. Theeo subjects inoluded engineering in all its branches, building and Boientrflo farming, bee-keeping, tod fruit-growing, suitable to New Zealand

requirements, as well as elementary economics. Tho work of the classes could easily have embraced all these subjects had instructors been available, for the men showed a keen desire for such instruction. Sergeant Menzies had charge of the classes, and had devoted considerable time and ability to the work. Sergeant Johnson, who was a Y.M.C.A. representative on the ship, lectured on economics, and stimulated many interesting debates among the men. After leaving Panama an essay competition was held, the subject being "Impres- ( sions of tho Panama Canal." There were a great many competitors, the winner being Private Percival, of Wangamii. \