DISABLED SOLDIERS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 294, 31 August 1918, Page 8

DISABLED SOLDIERS

• PETITION EOR MEMORIAL ...WORKSHOPS. The National Service League is proparing a petition for presentation to the Efficiency Board, urging the establishment of memorial workshops in New Zealand on the lines of the Lord Roberts's Memorial Workshops established in England after the South African war. In these workshops partially incapacitated soldiers are trained and work at a trade in congenial surroundings. ..' They .' have around them men who understand the'nv and they' feel that they are being restored to a useful, place in the civilian community. , In England, since the war began, the workshop, system has been considerably 'expanded, and workshops of. all kinds arc now established in many centres, manufacturing all kinds of articles and training many men. France is training every one of its disabled soldiers and sailors. Australia has voted £60,000 for the same pur-' pose. . ' " / "Our Government," states' the League's circular, "has tried to do 'something through 'the' medium of ourv technical .schools'; but disabled ■ men do not liko sitting down with their- juniors.' /&ri allowance or subsidy'is offered, disabled soldiers if they try to leam trades. But private employers cannot he expected to mako any special effort, or devote their ,time and skill to training men who lave;had no previous knowledge of their .work. Our. suggestion is; That our-memorial workshops bo at once started in New Zealand, as a national .tribute to our -fallen soldiers. • We think the National Efficiency Board should take the matter in "hand. A memorial workshop -should ;be opened by a committee or business men in each city. Our recommendation is that ; a.fiind.of £40,000 be created, to be lodged with the Public Trustee. Of this, £10,000 will bo appropriated for each city. The amount required to be provided: £20,000 by the Government, and £20,000 out of the patriotic funds, or £5000 from each largo centre. That the purchase of premises and .machinery and the salary of instructors ba made from the fund. , Advances could also bo made for the purchase of raw material. That every disabled soldier or sailor be entitled' to get instruction and, if ho wishes, to continue in employment in the workshops. That all work be paid for at trade rates. That trades such as tailoring, furniture-mak-ing, basketware, shoe-makiiig and' repairing, and toys be chosen; one trade to' each workshop. That the' Government be asked to assist the workshops by placing its orders with them for jistate. requirements.in connection with schools, offices, training farms, defence, police force, hospitals, etc., but. under no circumstances to reduce the pensions or allowances of the men employed because of their earnings. The workshops, of course, would start iu a small way, for the number of hands would be limited, but in process of time as the soldiers returned from abroad and were discharged from the hospitals t'liey would rapidly grow. Doubtless, as they become stronger, and from raw apprentices developed into passable tradesmen, they would leave to take up outside employment, but for years we.expect a great many wouM bo found working at each centre. The .cost may | be fairly arrived at by a reference to the figures connected with that splendidly managed institution, the Institute for the Blind, at Auckland, which, with the help of a trifling allowance from the Government and a few subscriptions, is making t.ho blind inmates happy, useful citizens."