The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1918. REPATRIATION OF SOLDIERS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 10, 3 December 1918, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1918. REPATRIATION OF SOLDIERS.

In a recent issue of the Sydney “Daily-Telegraph,” there appeared an article regarding the training of men discharged from the army by reason of disabilities caused by •wounds received at the war, the concluding sentence of which read as follows: “But it is certainly regrettable that the men who have given so much for Australia should be restricted on their return to a comparatively small number of occupations among

which are those that afford by no means the best , opportunities of earning a. good livelihood.” This sentence called forth a letter from Mr K D. Milieu, Minister for Repatriation, who said that, while fully appreciating (ho spirit in which the comment was written, and fully recognising the desire on the part of the. “Telegraph” to assist in making the work of repatriation of soldiers efficient by drawing attention to faults and deficiencies in the scheme of the authorities, it was necessary for him to remove the misconception on which tlie “Telegraph” based its comment. : “A leading principle,” said Mr Milieu, “upon which vocational training is based is that in selecting the professions or trades to bo taught to the soldiers 'the occupations should, as far as possible, be useful to the community, «o that tlie ox-soldier may have the best chance of securing a ready market for his skilled work. Oilier principles, however, must also he observed. The suitability of a man for the calling in which lie is to be trained, and the nature of Ids dis-| ability, are both important factors. I Nor must a man’s previous oxperi-| once as a wage-earner be entirely ignored. The system which is followed by the department in determining the calling in which a discharged soldier (where disability prevents him from following his previous calling) shall be trained is briefly this; —First ot all, information is obtained krom the applicant regarding Ids former occupation and of Ids inclination regarding the choice of a new one. Then the Vocational Training Committee, which consists of men possessing a knowledge of technical science or I technical industry, endeavours as far | as possible to direct such experience or such inclinations into Liu* most profitable channels, i.e., into industries which offer ,good prospects in' respect- of both wages ami employ-. men I. The medical officer’s opinion is also obtained by the committee in determining what training should he given. Obviously it would lie unwise to endeavor to train a man in a trade if the desirability under which he is} laboring would inexif-ably prevent him from acquiring a reasonable degree of skill. Clerical training is not encouraged, but it cannot be denied to all. i Some applicants, by reason of tl:e:r . acquired disability, their previous ex--1 perlence, and their dispostion, are ’ unstated to other callings, and to | force them out of their groove would be to deal unfairly with them. Not j one soldier is being trained in music, [ elocution, or singing. Two war vvid-

■ mvs who had arlo))l<*cl respo, tu-ely music and elocution as a proic-ssion 'before marriage, are however, being given a term prior to resuming thenold occupation, it is pars ul the repatriation .sclii me to provide such training facilities for widows without children. At the present time classes dealing with more than seventy callings have been established in the Commonwealth, and the majority of the trainees ;t re undergoing instruction in the I ratios associated with the wood, metal, and other important hidustries. Not more than 10 per cent, of the men, at the end of June last, recommended by the department for vocational .training, were classed as clerical. The number of men actually undergoing a clerical course was larger, but this was owing to the fact that many of the trainees had commenced work under the various State War Councils.”