VOCATIONAL TRAINING

Hokitika Guardian, 28 December 1920, Page 1

VOCATIONAL TRAINING

AVELLINGTON, Dec. 23. Tho Director of A'ocational Training to-day informed a reporter that tho number of soldier patients on the vocational training roll during November was 1024. The percentage of patients receiving instruction at hospitals where classes were maintained was 85.4 for the whole of New Zealand. In AVellington district the percentage was 90.9, in Otago district 88, in Canterbury district 84.9, and in Auckland district 76.8. On an average during last month each man receiving instruction devoted fifty-five hours to training. Soldiers’ recreation funds are benefiting very considerably from the profits made by the sale of articles manufactured in vocational workshops. During November the sum of £430 was paid into tlie men’s funds. These funds are administered by the patients at each hospital for their own bonefit. In AA'cllington district alone £1329 has been paid into tlie recreation funds during the past year and disbursed among the patients at Pukeroa and Trentham. Tho money is divided according to the number of hours the patients hare devoted to training. Splints and surgical appliances are being sold in increasingly large num-bers-by the Vocational Training Department. The articles are mamifae-

tured in the hospital workshops. The values supplied during the last four months to soldiers and civilians were:— August £76, September ,-£125, October £lsl, November £195. There is an increasing demand for surgical boots, both civilian and military. The Department recently appointed one surgical bootmaker at Dunedin and two at Auckland, and these men are being kept extremely busy. Military requirements are first met, and afterwards tbe civilian demand is dealt with. The Department proposes to establish a poultry farm at Piikcroa Military Sanatorium for the combined purpose of giving the patients vocational training and supplying the sanatorium with eggs and poultry. It is expected that the farm will be in working order in February, with accommodation for one thousand birds. A competent instructor is being appointed, and patients will be given intensive courses On completing their courses, the men will, receive certificates of proficiency.