CORRESPONDENCE.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 14 June 1917, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE.

[Correspondence is invited on any mattti of public interest. We do not, however, necessarily agree with the views expressed by correspondents.!

TRAINING COLLEGE FOR DISABLED SOLDIERS.

TO THE EDITOR

Sir, —This great war is sending back to our shores many of the finest of our young men disabled for life. They have, fought bravely in defence of our homes. We owe much to these gallant lads, and we fear that unless we bestir ourselves many of them will live in our midst unhappy and discontented. There is nothing disabled soldiers dread more than to feel they are useless and unable to earn their own living.

We would like to see a Training College started by the Government where every disabled soldier could be taught and given expert advice on the most suitable craft or industry he could follow, such as shoe-making, pictureframing, book-binding, basket work, etc., with an outsido branch for bee-keeping, poultry-farming, fruit-growing, and hothouse work, etc. Some employment must be found for the disabled soldiers now returning. If left to themselves they will drift into such occupations as they are now fit for or perhaps be employed by some generous employer. In either case, if they are unable to do a full day's work, they will in a few years be classed as permanent inefficients. The people of New Zealand should take steps now to avoid such a calamity. 11 will pay the nation to make its disable d soldiers useful and happy citizens, and a Training College on lines similar to Lord Roberts' Memorial Workshops or like those in France, would, we feel sure, be a national asset, and give our returned soldiers a reasonable J prospect of earning a fair living. May we ask your support to urge the same to be put in hand at once, —I am, etc., (Miss) E. WILLOUGHBY, Hon. Sec. National Service League, Auckland Branch.