3

H.—3o

Section ll.—Training. The Department at its inception made provision for the training of incapacitated soldiers in suitable trades and professions, arid a large, number of men availed themselves of the opportunity of enrolling for training in some class of work which would ensure them a fair remuneration. Training is provided for— (a.) Partially disabled soldiers who owing to war services are unable to resume their pre-war occupations ; (b.) Those who enlisted at a comparatively early age and had not acquired a trade or calling, or who are engaged in dying industries ; (c.) Apprentices whose indentures were interrupted by war service ; (d.) Soldiers' widows. Our work in the training section has shown a marked and steady decrease during the past few months, which is an indication that the repatriation of our soldiers is well on the way to completion. (1.) Subsidized Workers. One very important activity is the training of men in the various private workshops, factories, &o.j by the help of subsidized wages. The employer undertakes to train the applicant in the particular trade or calling, and pay the trainee a wage as fixed by a wages committee consisting of a representative of the trades-union concerned, the employer, and a representative of the Repatriation Department. The difference between the employer's wage and £3 per week is made up by the Department, such subsidy being quite irrespective of any pension allowance which the trainee is receiving. The wages paid by the employer are reviewed quarterly by the wages committee, and any increase granted during the currency of the permit is paid to the trainee and does not affect the Government subsidy. The trades taught include tailoring, bootmaking, watchmaking, wire-mattress making, electrical engineering, bag and trunk making, carpentry, wire-weaving, electrical drafting, fanning, photography, wicker-working, plumbing, french-polishing, vulcanizing, hairdressing, machinery salesman, drapery, wool-classing, sheet-metal working, motor-car and coach painting, cabinet making, sailmaking, motor mechanics, dental mechanics, &c. (2.) Special Glasses. The Department established special classes in the chief centres in motor mechanics, sheet-metal work, boot making and repairing, and general commercial subjects. These classes were greatly availed of by the soldiers, but as the demand for instruction lessened it was found possible during the past year to discontinue all but the bootmaking class at Auckland, the commercial class at Wellington, and the boot-repairing class at Christchureh. Special classes were also inaugurated for men desirous of studying for the Public Service Entrance Examination, the qualifying examination for permanent appointment to the Public Service, and permanent billets have been found by the Public Service Commissioner for all those men who passed the examination. (3.) Technical Schools. The Department has been fortunate in having the valued co-operation of the Education Department and the Boards, Directors, and staffs of the technical schools throughout the Dominion. A discharged soldier .may receive free tuition in almost any subject at the technical colleges, and the men have not been slow to take advantage of the facilities offered for learning their chosen trades or for bettering their position and prospects. Sustenance is paid to trainees as follows : When attending full-time classes of thirty hours or more per week —Soldier, £2 10s. per week ; wife, 10s. per week; children (not exceeding four), each 3s. 6d. per week, plus pension. When attending under thirty hours per week —Soldier, £2 10s. per week; wife, 10s. per week ; children (not exceeding four), each 3s. 6d. per week, inclusive of pension. (4.) Training in Universities, Special Schools, and Colleges. The professional training of discharged soldiers has not been neglected, and the Department showed itself anxious to assist men (particularly disabled men) whose courses of study were interrupted by military service, or men who showed special aptitude and ability for their chosen professions. In a good many instances men work during the day, and the Department assists with their fees whilst they are attending the evening lectures at the universities or 2->rivatc schools and colleges. Others devote their whole time to their studies, and, at the discretion of the District Repatriation Boards, may be paid sustenance on the same basis as laid down for other trainees. When financial assistance is likely to reach a large amount, as in the medical course, it is generally granted by way of loan, to be repaid by the student when he is in a position to do so. Grants are also made in approved cases towards the purchase of necessary text-books, &c. (5.) Apprentices. Many young men who enlisted while serving their terms of apprenticeship were on resumption of their pre-war occupations assisted and had their wages made up by the Department to —single men, £3 per week, plus pension ; married men, £3 ss. per week, plus pension. (6.) Farm Training. As the demand for training in farming was so great, the Department made arrangements for the tuition of soldiers at Ruakura and Weraroa State Farms, and established special farms at Motuihi (Auckland), Taulierenikau and Penrose (Wellington), Avonhead (Canterbury), and Moa Seed-farm