VOCATIONAL TRATNING

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 153, 24 March 1920, Page 4

VOCATIONAL TRATNING

WORK AMONG EX-SOLDIEUS,

Iticrcasinu iiitejcs! in the class-« conducted under the Defence Department s vocational training scheme is reported in all districts. There were on the roll* la-f month 1793 men, the lushest numbnr reached since the inception of. the scheme. ■' ■ .',. ~,,,, , The authorities have ilohced that the keenest pupils are those who, after vemrn to civil employment, break dotvn in health, and are readmitted to hospital. Their short experience has taught thorn the value of- trainintr, ami; they lake fu! advantau'e of the opportunities ottered wliile in hospital. ■ instruction is given in some seventy-subjects.y l.he .man nooular vocational subjects are ongmeerini! carpentry', commercial courses farm-, irot. boot repairing, and wool-e assim:. In most cases the men will be able to fo'low their pre-war vocation. It already oualified for it they may receive trainimr in. other lines.which will be incidentally useful. ','.,„ , Occupational work, is still popular, especially with, men in.bed. as a means of pasMUR the time. Leather work and tekctmakini aro the most imporlam occupational sublets. The _ Defence Ie- - partment supplies the material free. Jhe articles manufactured are sold, and the proceeds are controlled, by a snlchc-rs co.mnift.ee for the benefit of all in the hospital.'' The money is spent on games, picnics, etc. Anv- balance, remaining, after these have been provided for can then be divided among the men.. Ihe clas-.es are largely used for curative purposes. K'or some types of patients they form -n important uart of the-.treatment. Attendance in such cases isi compulsory, being regarded in the same light as medicine or massage. l - , , ,', ... •-. The vocational twining branch life -instructional farms in connection with the sanatorium at Waipukurau and Hnnmer, mid a poultry farm at the Cashmeie Hills Sanatorium. Thirty-two men receive instruction at the las.-nanicil, including eleven discharged trainees_by arrangement with the Repatriation Department The course is being extended to include fruitgrowing and beekeeping. 1 While-at Hanmer last week the Bireeloi of Vocational Training, Mr. W. A- {--• Panlir.aton. received a letter „.gned pj twentv members of the farming classes e\-i)ressiiiL' their satisiaction . with the trainiii" thev were receiving, and asking thn™ai"ran W ments slunild be made to enable them to continue there aftei discharue from the sanatorium. The insructional farm consists; 0f.200 acres of rather- poor, undeveloped hind, and alWs excellent training m, t\° actual building-up and developmcnt-of n-lnrm.-An Intensive course of lectures i> gium Ijy the farm manager.