INDUSTRIES FOR CRIPPLED SOLDIERS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2525, 28 July 1915, Page 4

INDUSTRIES FOR CRIPPLED SOLDIERS

SOME AVENUES .SUGGESTED,

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —Before long there will be returning to this country a continuous stream of those who have fought 011 our bohalf. Among them there will bo many whose days of active warfaro are over, bo it 011 our Empire's battlefields or, on the battlefield of commercial industry. It occurs to me that suitable and adequate provision could be best made for the maimed and the destitute, and at the_ minimum expense to the country, by invosting relief funds in tho 6ervices of our maimed Mid destitute warriors, other than by donating to tlieni week by week a small sum of money, somo of which might not always be'put to tho best of uses. I would suggest that a special committee should bo set up working ill conjunction with tho various relief committees now in operation, to consider and report as to what industries could be initiated .in New Zealand suitable, or largely so, to such a class of labour; Theso industries could bo started in healthy rural districts whero land is reasonable upon areas allocated for the purpose. Tliej should be supported by Government relief funds, by private contributions, and by tho salo of products manufactured or -grown. Money thus utilised would'be capital performing a twofold object. • Invested "V-/ 111 . l lndust 9;' ®*rning interest, while it provided remunerative labour and comfortable surroundings to o, class of labour which otherwise would he seeking for such ivorlc as it could perform, often in vain. Monoy thus utilised Would go further than if donated purely as relief- funds, because it would no in-terest-earning, while obtaining all its supplies at wholesale prices. It would also have a better moral' effect upon those with whom it came iu contact. The men would bo earning their and further they would feel that after all their fighting days were not over, for they wero tho pioneers of these industries in Now Zealand, laying the foundations upon which others should build- after them larger and stronger structures. It is in this way that an opportunity would ho afforded for starting industries in this country which it might not bo possible to' attempt for many years yet, under any other system, seeing that industries so started would 1 receive Government support (by means of pension and relief funds) and private donations, and the labour., would not expect under the circumstances a high rate of pay. Such institutions would be' the pioneers of these industries and manufactures in, this country. Their central committee would collect all data as to cost of production-, and \vculd seek-out tho best markets for the various products. Whero thoy succeeded, others would follow. Among somo of tlio industries which might lend | themselves to such- a purpose are the growing of small and other fruits for market, for preserving, for jam, and for.' pickles, boot and shoe-making, toy manufactures, basket work, wi'ro work, making American corn brooms, and brushes, and the growing of tho broomcorn for same. Tho production, collecting, and manufacture of medicinal herbs, perfumes, and such like, etc., etc., etc. Another industry awaiting development, anc[ for which large areas of this country aro suitable, and one ivhieh lends itself peculiarly to tho joint onergios of the fairly aefcivo cripple as well as to those who so means or locomotion are limited is the seed-growing and seedrselecting industry. There is a great need for something of. this sort to be started in New Zealand. In. certain districts Now Zealand can grow certain varieties of seeds second to nono in-the world for qualityi I helievei a large market beyond our own shores awaits somo of these products, if such could bo placed for a tinie upon .these .markets- at ; a .moderate price until such, times, as. tho goods had well.advertised themselves by their presence thero, when probably wo could command our own prices for them. Other varieties of seeds would o,t once command very remunerative prices if placed upon these markets in tho manner they are required there. An institution formed and supported in the manner' already indicated would onable all those things to be done. The further development of tho industry through private growers would follow as the markets wero thus found opened up by the pioneer institution. In peas .alone:a large trade is already dorio by Now Zealand'in the Home markets. -The best price is hot obtained by the growers m''New Zealand, because tlio. peas are chiefly bought in New .Zealand by tho bushel for a few shillings.. They are hand-picked and graded when they reach tbeir destination, and large quantities of them are then sold by the quart for something less than they were bought for by the bushel in New Zealand. Farm seeds, vegetable seeds, flower seeds, medicinal herbs,, and perfumes, and selections'of those all pro-' vide avenues for all grades of this cla6s of labour. - The growing, tending, and harvesting can he done by the more activo, while the preparation, cleaning, selecting, hand-picking, packing, all offer employment for those unable for more strenuous exertion. A certain amount of training would be necessary, ■ but. if this class of labour has to be utilised for anything.ivhatsdover, it will probably have first to be .taught hoir to perform it. In 110 more usoful way to the country at large, and in 110 more certain way of' building up a lasting industry could relief money be expended than by means of a seed institute. The work is peculiarly adapted to all grades of crippled labour, and provides useful, interesting, healthy, and remunerative occupation for such. Suitable land could bo obtained by lease or purchase, or it might be donated, or an institution might be endowed therewith. Such an industry lends itself easily to village settlement life, because as long as thero is a central institution organising the whole, it is not necessary that all tho plots should be contiguous. Mueli of tho work can be performed by villagers engaged in portion of their time in sonic other industry as long as they work under the supervision of tho institute. Special donations for such a. relief fund mHit, be invite-d from farmers, and A. and P. Associations and Farmers' Union branches might organise . and collect same.

A_ better-way would bo to start- a special fund called, say, "New Zealand Industries Development llelief Fund," and to got tlie Press of the country to tako tho matter up and open subscription lists of, say, Is. per month, and upwards, for all those who are willing to subscribe. The purpose of the fund would be for the initiation in NewZealand of such industries as wore suitable for this class of labour. The allocation of the money thus collected to tho various industries selected could be left in the .hands of a committee appointed for the purpose. Thore are nearly 1}- millions of people in New Zealand. If 200,000 of them gave only 2s. Gd. per mouth for three months, £75,000 would bo available for this purpose in that time, and the.giving of 2s. Gd. per. month for three months would mean that each contributor had only given a sum of 7s. Gd. to this fund for the relief of the halt, the maimed, and tho blind, who had become thus crippled when fighting in their defence.—l am, cto., MANAWATU,