SOLDIER INVALIDS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 16454, 5 June 1919, Page 4

SOLDIER INVALIDS.

DEVELOPMENT OP VOCATIONAL TRAINING. CONFERENCE OF VOCATIONAL OFFICERS. SPECIAL TO HERALD. WELLINGTON, Juno 4. A conference ot vocational officers was recently hold in Wellington to consider many points which nave arisen in connection with this important word among soldiers who are side and disabled. As a result or a very valuable exchange of views, the work of the educational and vocational training branch of the Defence Department win receive great impetus, and Us operations will be extended. Six months ago no vocational training was given in hospitals, although two lady mstnr.Vors had been engaged by the medical authorities to teach occupational work such as basket-making ana leather work in the institutions under the Defence Department's control. It was to ensure that soldiers in hospital should bo given not only occupational instruction but also vocational training prior to their discharge that the special brunch was sot up, under the control of a Director of Vocational Training. Tho stall has already grown to over iifty, and us new demands tor instruction come forward, it is being steadily increased. Workshops have been provided at Auckland, Rotorua, Napier, Treiithain, Christchurch, 'Haunter, Tirnani, Dunedin, and Invercargill. Funds for this purpose and lor the provision of_ equipment have been provided by the New Zealand Red Cross Society, which devotes itself to the welfare of'tho sick and wounded soldier, in these hospitals instructors have been appointed to teach trades suitable to hospital patients, such as boot-repairing, carpentry, cabinet-mak-ing, and business courses. In some hospitals instruction by way of lectures is also given in economics and civics. It has been found, however, that tho 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 him interested in his future civilian activities, and to start his training before leaving the hospital. When it is realised that there are 1302 patients at tho hospitals in New Zealand, and that the outpatients number 1871, the magnitude of tho task of interviewing is evident, and it was not surprising to find that all the vocation officers reported that they wore over-worked. Assistant vocation officers have now boon appointed in Auckland and Christchurch, and similar appointments are to be made in Wellington and Dunedin.

Ibis extension of tho staff will enable tho branch to pay special attention to tho needs of the soldier outpatients. It is the wish of tho Minister of Defence that these patients should be trained in tho same way as those undergoing treatment as inpatients, Owing to tho fact that they only got into touch with the vocation officer once or twice a week, when they come to 'tiio hospitals for medical attention, it is difficult to interview each man.

“We arc not going to allow the outpatients to drift,” stated tho Director of Educational and Vocational Training. “They will receive not only medical attention, but' help in the task of preparing for their future as useful civilians.” All out-patients are to bo interviewed by tho vocation officers, who will advise them ns 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 training branch with tho Repatriation Department, which looks after tho soldier upon discharge, wore fully considered at tho conference. A representative of tho Director of Repatriation and the secretary of the Repatriation Board attended a sitting of the conference, and it was decided to co-ordinate the work so that tho men who have been trained while undergoing medical treatment may continue their education, after discharge, under the direction of the Repatriation Department. It has been a difficult and delicate task to introduce vocational training into tho hospitals, for soldier invalids, like the average civilian, are disinclined to take up new activities during tho restful period of convalescence. Useful occupation plays an important part in winning strength and a cheerful mental outlook, and for this reason alone is a factor of great value. The seldSh-’s future as a civilian is tho subject of tho Defence Department’s anxious concern, therefore, the vocation 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 strive to interest them in their life after discharge when they enter the com-

petitivo arena outside. They have to overcome the disinclination of the convalescent to undertake any active 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, hut 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 the educational and vocational branch was established.