REPATRIATING SOLDIERS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 120, 14 February 1920, Page 7

REPATRIATING SOLDIERS

TRAINING FIT MEN IN CARPENTRY

• Some time ago the" Wellington District Repatriation Office put forward a scheme for training 100 returned soldiers in all branches.of carpentry, joinery, and concrete. Ijoxine. . The matter has been fully considered •by tho employers. and , the union." and yesterday ten. men started work under the scheme. Tho period of training.is three-yeara.

Tho agreement provides that the emDlover shall instinct' th'o soldier in all branches of the- trade,; and a scale of wages has been drawn up which should be uuito'satisfactory. At the end of the three years the soldier will be a first-' class journeyman.' Penalties are. provided for any breach of tho agreement, either by tho employer, or the soldier.

. Mr.. C. W. Batten (district repatriation officer) stated to a Dominion reporter' Testerdav that for"a long time past disabled soldiers had been trained in- various trades with great success, but the (scheme'was now being extended to cover young, fit men, who, through the war, had lost their opportunities of lenripng trades. Mr. Batten said he had noticed ail article which gave the impression that the trades unions in Wellington were opposing the scheme.,. "I wish to sav .here," he continued, " that the union has .gone very thoroughly into the. matter. ' arid is giving every assistance. We are assured'of their sympathetic help,' and already have had Ihe benefit of their practical suggestions. From our exuerience we aro certain that the journey-'' men carpenters will give of tlidir best hi teaching the soldiers the trade/' •