WAR PROBLEMS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 1, 23 September 1918, Page 2

WAR PROBLEMS

RE-EDUCATING LIMBLESS SOLDIERS

WHAT IS DONE AT OATLANDS PARK

The report for the mouth ending May 31. on the re-education of New Zealand limbless soldiers stationed at Oatlancts Park and with various firms throughout Great Britain, made to Mr. Raymond, N.Z. War Contingent Association, Lofcdon, by Captain Richards, 0.C., N.Z.M.T., and officer in charge training disabled soldiers, and forwarded to tho Wellington Red Cross executive, maltes very interesting reading. • Captain. Richards writes:—"The manner ir, which students havo concentrated upon their studies calls for special mention, and the progress gives promise. of good results. The strength of the commercial class at the end of May was 97. During the month seventeen students were enrolled and thirteen were struck off the register. Bosults to hand in connection with the shorthand examinations_ indicate that a high standard of efficiency has been attained. Tho reports etate that the test papers worked by all the members of tho shorthand class have been examined, and! are up to the required standard of efficiency. Eight final and threo intermediate certificates had been issued. The number of men attending tho motor engineering section at Oatlands'.Park'at the end of May.was forty-three to forty-eight engineering, and five vulcanising. Work on the MorrisrCowley aud Ald.a cars has .provided excellent training for the men in overhauling vehicles, and some of the work completed was on view at' tho recent Inter-Allied Exhibition in London. In addition, to thesp cars a 24-30 horse-pqwer Albion car has. been taken into the workshops for overhaul, and is now boing dismantled. Besides gaining practical experience in this work, lectures are givew by tho instructors as to tho uses of the various parts at the time of dismantling, so that the men are able to work out every detail in reassembling samo. "Tho strength of, the wool-classing section at Oatlands Park is now thirtyeight men. The majority of tho men are taking a keen interest in the work, and the attendance is good. The work cfone has been up to a good rtandard, and all the bales supplied by the wool control authorities have been reclassed, and instruction is being carried on with tho wool remaining in tho bins, until a new allotment arrives. Arrangements aro now complete with a firm of top ; makdrs in Bradford for the meiiF to get a finishing course there; and about six men will be sent up in June. Further men will be sent to Bradford as their training hero is completed, and their temporary limbs fitted.. ' ■ "Tn the cabinet-making, section at. Oatlands Park two men wero sent for training in this' section during . the month, making a total of .twelve. Some of the mow will be quite .capable of taking up cabinet-making as a futuro occupation in New Zealand. "An incrcaso of attendance, can bo reported in thii.bootmaking section at Oatlands Park, thirty attending during May. O*er 140 pairs of-toots have been repaired satisfactorily during tho month. One man loft during the month .to tako up a. .' finishing course at Cordwainers Institute in London. ■ ..•'■■' ""'ln tho I.C.S. course three men are making exceptional, progrebs. The groundwork which these nien are receiving should be most useful to them in their, practical course, to which they will be senfc v when they have boon h'tted with their artificial limbs. ■ "One man is taking a motor traction course. He has been offered a, position in charge of a motor plough immediately his discharge has been granted. Another is on a poultry farm at Cobham, another is attached to the School of Tcchnicology at Maiwhcster; nine are'studyiug motor engiueeriijg at the Star Factory, Wolverhampton, Ausvton's motor works, Birmingham, and Guy's Motors, Wolverliampton; and , several others arc studying electrical engineering at the Electrical Construe-, tion Company, Wolverhampton. - ''One. man is reported to have made good progress in tailoring, and'is in a, position to enter business on his own account. In architecture, one mac's drawings at tho Inter-Allied Exhibition have been well,commented upon. Arti- • ficial limb-making is being taught at] Roelmmpton, and wireless telegraphy nt the Technical Institute, Wimbleckm. One man who qualified there is at present assisting the electrical staff at the institute in putting down a new wireless plant." Captain Richards reports that the soheme for the re-education of limbless men continues, to show most satisfactory results. It would have been impossible to have attained results of this nature had it not been that the men themselves have put their shoulders to the wheel, knowing ]>erfectly well that it depended upon themselves as to whether they became efficient tradesmen or not. The highest standard of efficiency is being attained in our New Zealand classes at Oatlands Park, and at the Star Engineering Company, Electrical Construction' Company, and other firms where these men are placed. The work on view at the recent Inter-Allied Exhibition was repeatedly commented upon by various people as indicating the highly satisfactory scheme adopted by*, us for the reeducation of limbless mer» as compared with other colonial and British schemes. ■At present there are 233 students at . Oatlands Park, and 43 with various firms throughout the United Kingdom. Enclosed with the report were copies or letters from various firm? commending the work dono by New Zealand men.

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* Think how your skin looks yourself. The old eeying, "You have only got yourself to blame" is generally true. A beautiful face is a matter of your own, not other faces. Your own culture make 6it so. You must use the propnrntions that are pure and right, not the cheap and wrong. Try small outfit for homo use. Directions on the labels are messages of priceless v.ihie. Tlie.so preparations are Registered and Patented. Copied by many, equalled by none. All Haiir Treatmeirlls, Foods, aud Tonics. All Hair work. Miss M'ilsom, !M AVilJis Street, •'Phone BM.-Advt.

For St. Mary's Building Fund. A vorv successful dance in aid of -the St. Mary's Building Fund was held in the Alexandra Hall, Abel Smith Street) oil Saturday evening under the auspices of the Catholic Girls' Hostel. The hall had been charmingly decorated for the occasion, and there was a. largo attendance of dancers and friends interested in the cause. The chaperones were Mesdames T. Cornish, J. J. L. Burke, T. P. Halpin, J. O'Sullivan, M. Gloefion, and C. Dllllll. The committee responsible. for the danco comprised Misses B. Hnckett, K. Dwyer, JJ. Adamson, J], Daly, K. Bowe, L Gould, and Jlossrs. W. P. Lennon, J. J. Troy, D. Scaulon, C. Shannaban, C. J. l.'laff, and P. Hackott. Cowley's orchestra supplied the music for the dancing, and the members of the ommitteo did nnich to secure the enjoyment of all present. JSiss iU. Burke was the lion, secretary for the dance. Wellington Red Cross Shop. i/wuy io iiiiiiud i/ay, no sales day wi \p neiu at tne snop on i'nuay, bui, tne return tor aie wAk snows & very gooa sum lor ewg Leaiand sick auu woiiiitieu-soiuiers. 'ibis inouey was received i loin uiu .uisses Cooper, jioss, ana iiiies's flower stall, tnu ladies 01 the Aoni Terrace J/resu/cenan uiiurch, 1 and a dona lion of os. iroin iHrs. Ai'iUanaway. j\exo i'nday the khanciai'iim vV.iN.it. will nave tneinied Cross Day, and a, very successiui one is anticipated. ■ This is the lirst time that kiiamiaiiah lias taken a day, and the district is one that lias in it. many keen and earnest Hed Cross workers, On' October 4 the ladies of hobson Street and Hobson Crescent will have their second Ked Cross Day. ±\iaiiy hands are busily preparing for it, and there are very charming and original articles being made. Very sweet and simple will be the children's frocks made of buuty zephyrs for those of ten years and under. Theso will Ke especially attractive and should lind a ready sale, The Menace of {he Feeble-minded, ' In tho course, of an exhaustive study of the problem (ft human degeneracy, Millicent Preston-Stanley, after quoting records showing the awful results that follow in tho uncontrolled reproduction. of the feeble-minded, suggests how thi§ vital social problem should be handled, states the Sydney "Sunday Times" She says: —"In the first place the transmission of feeble-mind-edness should be prevented by the segregation under Stato control of tho feeble-minded parent who is the source of 66 per cent, di existing feeble-mind-edness. Tho State should provide for the mental examination of all children,, it should separate the mentally defective from the normal, and _ establish special schools for their training, and when their defectiveness is established, transfer them, before the- period of adolescence, to the permanent custody of the State. Mental clinics sllbuld be established for the mental examination of all .persons charged with crime or delinquency, and legislation . should provide for the permanent custody of : all who, by rcafeon qf mental defect, may become a menaco to so'oiety. Institutions, training . schools and colonies could be established for these unfcrtunates where they might lead useful and happy lives under proper direction and control.' The paper concludes with the. assertion that "one genera-i tion of caro for these irresponsibles will witness a vast decrease in the cost of maintenance df courts, gaols, reformatories, hospitals, asylums, and children's relief departments. Tho social saving which must result frqm the. prevention. of the transmission of, mental defects can never be estimated ; but tho net gain to the community would oe colossal."

The wedding took place at Merivale Church, Christclmrch, last week' of Miss Vera A'Court, second daughter of Mrs. H. AiCourt, of Mnnsfield Avenue, Christchtircli, to Mr. Kenneth William Robinson, second son of Mrs.Bobinsoii, of Rugby Street. The bVide was given, away by her brother, Dr. A'Court, and was attended by her sister, Misß Gwendoline A'Court as bridesmaid. Mr. Cγ. Aitken was the best man.

Dr. Margaret M'Cahon has been spending a few days in Christchurch on her way through from Dunedin to Auckland, where she will take up a Government appointment.

A meeting of the Thorndon Day Reel Cross Committee and workers is to be held this afternoon at three o'clock in the Sydney Street.Soldiers' Club gymnasium to'discuss matters in connection with theJled Cross Flag Drive.

A meeting ( of the Soldiers' Mothers and Dependants' League is to be held in the Esperanto, Hall on Wednesday evening at 8 o'clock. All members and intending members are urged to be presont. ,The election of a president and committee will be part of the busi.ness transacted. - '