INVALIDED SOLDIERS.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLV, Issue 11850, 5 June 1919, Page 5

INVALIDED SOLDIERS.

VOCATIONAL TRAINING SCHEME. Per Press Association. Wellington, June 3. The officers appointed to supervise the vocational training of invalid soldiers conferred recently in Wellington. The Director of Vocational Training presided, and some important extensions of work among soldiers in hospital and convalescent institutions were arranged. Hospital workshops have been provided at Auckland, Rotorua, Napier, Trentham, Christchurch, Hanmer, Timaru, Dunedin and Invercargill. Funds for this purpose, and for the provision of equipment, have been provided by the New Zealand Red Cross Society, which devotes itself to the welfare of sick and wounded soldiers in these hospitals. Instructors have been appointed to teach trades suitable to hospital patients, such as boot repairing, carpentry, cabinet making, motor engineering and business courses. There are 1802 patients at the hospital in New Zealand and out patients number 1871. All vocation officers reported that they were overworked. Assistant vocation officers have been appointed in Auckland* and Christchurch, and similar appointments are to be made in Wellington and Dunedin. This extension of the staff will enable the branch to pay special attention to the needs of soldier outpatients. It is the wish of the Minister of Defence that these patients should be trained in the same way as those undergoing treatment as in patients. The Director of Educational and Vocational Training said outpatients would receive not only medical attention but help in the task of preparation for their future as civilians. All outpatients would be interviewed by vocation officers, who will advise them as to the best training for civilian positions, and encourage them to take advantage"©! the educational facilities provided by the Department. The relations of the educational and vocational training branch with the Repatriation Department, which looks after the soldier upon discharge, were fully considered at the conference. A representative of the Director of Repatriation and the secretary of the Repatriation Board attended the sitting of the conference, and it was decided to co-ordinate the work so that men who had been trained while undergoing medical treatment may continue their education after discharge under the direction of the Repatriation Department.