SOLDIERS AND BOOTMAKING.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19814, 4 December 1919, Page 3

SOLDIERS AND BOOTMAKING.

INADEQUATE OPPORTUNITY alleged, IVftjplsiinh. «vm»>r».'tog the class.- of work lining given returned soldiers who are endeavouring to learn hootmaking was niacin at last night’s mooting of thn Caniorluiry ‘Repatriation Hoard. Tlio cliairmnn (Mr A. AY. .Jamieson) stated that Dr Hansen, of thn Techninal Co I Inge, was in commnnination with i iivnrnargill regarding hootmaking instanchion, and expected lo hare a scheme ready for adoption in Christchurch so as to giro effort to the suggestions that had hneirmade from lime lo time hr the hoard. Mr \V.‘ Goss reported that the position in regard to subsidised soldiers employed by bootmakers was not very satisfactory. The, men were being treated too much as disabled men, it. appeared, and were not receiving tbe instruction which they were entitled to receive. The committee concerned bad the matter in band. It felt that it would be. wiser to toaoli tlio men boot, repairing rather than bootmaking. The board should urge that a class should be set up at the Technical College where tbe men could learn the trade. Many of the men employed by factories would rather leave them and take up hoot-repairing classes. Tt did not seem practicable to tench tlio men bootmaking with tbe machinery in the factories here. There were fourteen subsidised men in the bool making trade in Christchurch. A satisfactory reporthad been received from one, and a satisfactory report from another, but the others seemed to feel that they were not- getting what; they wanted. Ho moved that the hoard should do what it could 10. immediately start such classes at the Technical College. Mr W. K. Tcadley said that some nt the men could not stand the strain m the noise of the machinery. He seconded the motion. The chairman said that the hoard had power to make a grant towards the classes as soon as they were decided upon. Air A, F. Drayton said ho, thought they were all convinced that no practical training was being given to the men. Practically able-bodied men were being employed waxing thread and punching boles, and bad been at the work three months, although thev could have learned it in a week. H would he well to appoint a small committee, with power to act. in regard to the matter. At the present time some of the men were doing girls work. Messrs Goss, Howard and Leadfey were appointed to the committee suggested.-