The Daily News. MONDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1919. TRAINING RETURNED SOLDIERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 December 1919, Page 4

The Daily News. MONDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1919. TRAINING RETURNED SOLDIERS.

The movement set on foot at Wellington to train fit, -but unskilled, returned soldiers as carpenters and joiners, is one that will accomplish two very important objects—it will, in time, help to supply the depleted ranks of the tradesmen in question, and will provide a remunerative occupation for men who can now only follow the calling of ordinary laborers. The building trade is seriously hampered at present by the shortage of carpenters and joiners, especially the latter, who are at a premium, and it was a wise step to hold a conference between members of the Repatriation Board, the Master Builders' Union, and the Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and Joiners. The outcome of that conference was entirely satisfactory, it being decided that it was safe to arrange for the training of one hundred picked men from among the returned soldiers of the Wellington district. The project was discussed in its business, and not its sentimental, aspect, and due recognition was given to the fact that it takes time to convert even an apt unskilled man into a tradesman, though a man of average intelligence and adaptibility may be expected to become reasonably proficient at the trade quicker than a youth serving an apprenticeship. The trainees will, however, have lo exhibit considerable smartness lo get through their training in fhree years, but they will be materially assisted by tuition at the .technical school, attendance thereat being compulsory. Although the men will start work at ft low wage the usual Government subsidy will make up their earnings to three pounds a week, due provision being made for deciding on the amount to be paid by the employers from time to time. To ensure that the trainees are using diligence and making satisfactory progress there will be periodical reports on their work. The most gratifying part of the business is the sympathetic manner in which the employers and the journeymen entered into the scheme, for without their cordial co-operation its evolution would have been impossible. They even went a step further in the right direction by assuring the conference that they would do all in their power to turn out the trainees as competent journeymen, able to earn the award wages in any market. Under such circumstances the trainees will have only themselves to blame if they fail to reap the advantages of this praiseworthy effort to deal with a problem that presented considerable difficulties —finding occupation for unskilled men. Pew trades offer better prospects of a comfortable living, and it is probable that the number of learners may be increased from time' to time if the experiment answers. What has been done in this matter by the Wellington builders and carpenters. can be done in other districts and by other trades. The cost to the'

country is not worth consideration when weighed in the balance with the gains that will accrile by putting the unskilled returned soldiers in the way of becoming independent. There will inevitably be a proportion of this class of returned men who will have to vely on ordinary labor for a living, but all who have the will and ability to succeed in skilled work should have an opportunity to profit by training. It is obvious that the number of men under training will not materially affect the present shortage of skilled labor either in the near future or later. Youths must be attracted to trades by conditions of service that do not at present prevail. It is here that the technical schools should do good work that will fit. in with a practical scheme to be evolved by the employers and the journeymen. The present restriction as to the number of apprentices to be employed has both merits and disadvantages, but it is probable that the main dislike youths have for learning a trade is caused by having to spend so much time unprofit. My in waiting on the journeymen, instead of being taught the trade. Technical training, and the advantages it confers on the pupils, is bound to exercise an influence adverse to drudgery, and the Government would be doing good service by devoting close attention to the question of producingasensible and practical scheme which will stimulate employers and employees, as well as the learners, to put forth their best efforts towards securing increased skill and output and improving the conditions of industrial life. The spirit demonstrated at the Wellington Conference with regard to the returned soldiers is an augury of what might happen if all parties concerned tackled the larger problems in the same way and solved them with equal suceess.