CURATIVE WORK

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 177, 22 April 1919, Page 6

CURATIVE WORK

FOR DISABLED SOLDIERS

REASONS FOR THE TREATMENT STATEMENT BY THE MINISTER.

An interesting statement i 6 made by Sir James Allen, 1 Minister of Defence,.iu » letter written by him to the Auckland branch of the British Hed This association wrote to him,suggesting that it would be. proper to allow partially disabled soldiers, .undergoing curative treatment in Eotorua and other institutions under the Defence Department to sell foi; profit the articles made by them/ while in> .the, jpstitutions, especially .those made' by tho- soldiers in their spare time. At the present tho custom is to sell the articles and to put tho proceeds into a common fund. It was urged that this might ;be right and-proper as applying to tho goods made in working hours, but not to those made by soldiers in their own time. The Minister makes interesting remarks on the purposes of this curative work; given to soldiers as part of their 'treatment. ..

"I duly received, your letter of March 81, on .the,.question, pf the disposal of tho proceeds from tho work of soldier patients in> I hospitalism..,. and convalescent homes, but refrained from replying until I" could go fully into the subject,'' the Minister writes. "The occupational work'" done in hospitals in j^ew/Zealand js part of the general scheme of educational and vocational training, which is now in force in New Zealand. To understand , tho position it is first necessary to explain the reasons for this scheme, and to give its general outlines. "Soldiers in hospitals have suffered from lack cf occupation, both mental and physical.. The word 'suffer" is used designedly, ; for , this inortia ■ leads to an apathetic . state of mind which reacts on tho. patient's health, malting him despondent and unable to take an interest in life. Iu medical cases there ia no .ptanding still, and unless some stimulus is applied the tendency is for the soldier to go back .nientallyand physically.' "It is to counteract this tendency that the educational and vocational scheme lias, been brought into operation. It applies to all soldiers undergoing medical treatment whose health permits them to receive training.„ Its'object is the cure of the soldiers' disabilities,-just in the same manner ss m.nssage, batli6, or the application of electricity. The treatment varies with the disability. Soldiers whoso arm n\uscle3 require special oxercise are given basket or leather work for this purpose; soldiers are employed in the carpenter's shop or the splintmaktng workshops with a similar object. To, encourage them to take up trades when discharged, vocational training such ns boot-OTpairing and commercial education is also-given in hospitals and in technical: schools. In tlie carpenter's iehop a number of articles of furniture are made for the use of the hospitals, and in the splint-making workshop all necessary surgical appliances are made for the hospital, soldier.- In making them, patients acquire valuable knowledge fn the handling of tools. "It is not suggested in your letter that all these men should receive payment for being trained to work. To select those who in the course .of such curative training happen to produce articles which-may be saleable to the" public as entitled to make money out of tho work tliey pro. duce is manifestly an unfair distinction. The question is Iwunfl to be asked, 'Why should Private Jon'fs, who las a bad hand and is'detailedto make baskets, receive payment, when Private Smith, who has a bad foot, and is set'to work a foot treadle machine in the carpenter's shop, receive none?' There is only one way to answer this question. ■ All soldiers working under, this scheme must be treated alike, and any benefits which are given 6liould hot be given to-riny soldier individually,. but be available for all. soldiets iin 'tho hospital equally. This is done by tho formation of a recreation fund, which is controlled by the soldiers themselves subject *o the approval of tho principal riicdical officer. Into this fund all money derived f'om the sale of . work to tho public is pajd without any deduction for material, f ■ "The question whether soldiers, should be allowed to sell . work done during hours when, they were not .detailed to attend workshops as part- of their cure was carefully considered by a recent medical conference, nnd this concession was not recommended. To allow_ this would in-, volve the being given, to soldiers to accept private employment while paid by the State. This cannot" be, conceded. Hospital patients will under the new scheme be able to occupy their time under the educational and vocational training ;S<sheme/to'gre.titer advantage than in making baskets, and the stimulus of making money should not he necessary to induce,a soldier to follow out with zest the treatment designed for his cure."