ATTACHMENT SCHEME

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 71, Issue 6140, 24 September 1945, Page 3

ATTACHMENT SCHEME

NEW, ZEALANDERS IN BRITAIN PREPARING FOR CIVIL LIFE Hundreds of ex-prisoners of war and other New Zealand servicemen spending periods of transit in Great Britain while awaiting their return home have been taking advantage of a unique scheme of industrial attachments which has been operating with marked success for many months. The scheme is unique in that no other transit force is using it, while its success lies in the achievements of almost 300 men who have gone a long way towards solving their rehabilitation problems while still in uniform. Conceived, planned, and to a great extent administered by the officer in command of the New Zealand Education Rehabilitation Service in the United Kingdom, the system of attachments has had the active support of the New Zealand rehabilitation authorities. It provides for servicemen, should they so desire, to be attached to approved employers while remaining on service pay. Men who had in many cases lost their confidence after years of mental depression and stultification behind barbed wire have thus n'ot only regained that confidence but added to their preservice knowledge of their jobs. On their return to New Zealand they are bringing back something that will not only benefit themselves but the whole community as well. British Council Assists Unless in special circumstances the periods of attachments are up to six months, and must conclude before the sailing date of the last prisoner of war ship to leave for New Zealand. During the attachment period there is no onus on the employer to pay wages, since the scheme is not to provide employment but rather to ensure that the men are actually instructed in whatever phase of the industry or occupation they wish to learn. Besides being on army pay they are given a subsistence allowance and their fares are paid to and from the job. A man may either find his own employer or rely on the authorities to do so. In the latter case the British Council has provided an excellent employer-finding service, working in co-operation with British Government departments, including the Ministries of Labour and Agriculture.

The men have responded with enthusiasm. According to the report of a senior New Zealand officer who made a recent inspection of the plan, all those he visited on the job were taking their attachments very seriously, and the relationships between the firms and the servicemen were friendly and co-operative. One man, a warrant offices, who had been an Automobile Association employee before his service, was attached to the Automobile Association at Fanim House, in London. This man was being given experience in all branches, including local and foreign travel, insurance, and the handling of vehicle transport and road services. Before being attached he was worried about the experience he had missed wliile being away. Now his confidence has returned, and he

says he intends to forego leave on arrival in New Zealand and go at once to work. Similar results have been obtained in vocations ranging from general farming to marine insurance. One sergeant, a lawyer before the war, was for two months under the personal instruction of a barrister from Temple Courts. He assisted in preparing briefs and sat in Court ‘ unrobed ” to observe methods in advocacy. Another man has been studying poultry farming by the battery method, and another has been engaged on anj itinerary arranged by the Ministry of Education to study a cross-section of post-pri-mary and technical education in Britain. At least one journalist has been attached to a large London daily, doing his assignments in uniform, as are all of those who take advantage of the attachment system. Bursaries Also Available For those who need a course of instruction involving attendance at a school or college, fees are paid by the Rehabilitation Board, while rehabilitation bursaries are available to those who seek attachments that require much more than six months to complete. Although administered by the Education Rehabilitation 'Service, the attachment system, like the bursary scheme, is under the jurisdiction of the Education Committee (United Kingdom) of the New Zealand Rehabilitation Board. On this Committee are Dr R. M. Campbell, secretary to the High Commissioner and present acting High Commissioner, as chairman; Major-General Kippenberger, Mr R. S. Skinner (naval attache), and representatives of the army and air force education services. A special sub-committee formally approves the attachments, and the machinery is also provided to put them into immediate operation.