VOCATIONAL TRAINING.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 September 1921, Page 5

VOCATIONAL TRAINING.

LATEST PROGRESS REPORT. GOOD WORK BEING DONE. The progress report for August last of the Educational and Vocational Training Branch of the Repatriation Department shows that 730 patients attended classes during the month. No less than 89.8 per cent, of the inpatients at the hospitals, where classes are maintained, received instruction, being the highest percentage yet recorded. Whilst in part due to the cold weather keeping the men indoors, this also indicates, states the report, the increasing interest which they are taking in the classes. The percentage for the South Island centres, 94.6 per cent., is particularly creditable. The number of hours devoted to instruction was 39,372, an average of 53.9 hours per man. This average has been exceeded only once previously. The sum of £237 18s 5d was refunded to the public account for materials used. The above figures do not include Pukeora Sanatorium, where the classes are now conducted by the Public Health Department.

, The number of civilians attending classes during August was 89, an increase of 9 on the previous month. They averaged 40.5 hours attendance each. In most cases these civilians are required to attend the classes as part of their treatment. The members of the Hamner carpentry class arc now engaged ma nty on outdoor work. During the month they erected a shed 43ft. by 18ft. and carried out other useful jobs about the hospital. Nineteen of the patients are engaged in general farm work. A farmyard has been completed, and the vegetable plants prepared for planting. The patients at Trentham are displaying much enthusiasm in preparing exhibits for the exhibition to be held at Trentham on October 4 and w. It is also,“proposed to make a display of Vocational products and surgical appliances at the forthcoming Industries and Commerce Exhibition to be held in the Wellington Town Hall. The cost of vocational and occupational classes for the iponth averaged £1 3s 8.%d for each man attending. This shows a slight increase over the previous month, due to the exclusion of the Pukeora figures,