INVALIDED SOLDIERS.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 15836, 5 June 1919, Page 2

INVALIDED SOLDIERS.

VOCATIONAL TRAINING SCHEME.

(Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, June 3. The officers appointed to supervise the vocational training of invalid soldiers conferred recently in Wellington. The Director of \ ocational Training presided, and some important extension 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 1302 patients at the hosmials in New Zealand and outpatients 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 ont-patiente. It is the wish of the. Minister of Defence that these patients should be trained in the .same way as those under going treatment as in-pa-tients. The Director of Educational and Vocational Training said out-patients would receive not cuiy medical attention, but help in the task of preparation for their future as useful civilians. All out-patients would be interviewed by vocation officers, who will advise them as 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 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 Board attended the sitting of the conference, and it was decided to co-ordi-nate the work so that men who had been trained while undergoing medical treatment may continue their education alter discharge under the direction of the Repatriation Department.