VOCATIONAL TRAINING.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 June 1919, Page 4

VOCATIONAL TRAINING.

• of invaltoed"soldiees. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Lost Night. The officers appointed to superrtw the vocational training of invalid soldiers conferred recently in Wellington. The Director of Vocational Training presided, and fx>me important extensions of work among soldiers in hospitals and convalescent institutions were arranged Hospital workshops have been provided at Auckland, Rotorua, Napier, Trentham, Christchnrch, Hanmer, Timaiu,' Dunedin, and Invercargill. The funds for this purpose and for the provision of equipment have been provided by the New Zealand Red Cross Society, whichdevotes itself to the welfare of the siok and wounded soldier. In these hospitals instructors have been appointed to teach trades; suitable to the hospital patients, such as boot repairing, darpentry, cabinetmaking, motor engineering, and business courses. There are 130& patients at hospitals in New Zealand and outpatients number 1871. All vocation officers reported that they were overworked. Assistant vocation officers have been appointed in Auckland and. Christchurch, and similar appointments are to be made in Wellington and Dunedin. This extension of the staff will enable the branch to pay attention to the need# of soldier out-patients. It is the wish of the Minister for Defence that the*s patienta should be trained in the sane way as those undergoing treatment m in-patients. _ The Director of Educational and Vocational Training said the outpatients would receive, not only medical attention, but help in the task of preparing for their future as useful civilians. Alt out-patients are to be interviewed by vocation officers, who will advise then as to the belt training for civilian position, and encourage them to take advantage of the educational facilities provided by the Department. Tho relations of the educational and vocational training branch with the Repatriation Department, which looks after the soldier upon discharge, were fully considered at the conference. A representative of the Director of Repatriation and the secretary of the Repatriation Board attended the sitting of the conference, and it was decided: to co-ordinate the work so that men who had been trained while undergoing medical treatment maf continue their education after discharge under the direction of the Repatriation Department. •