39

H.-19

have been engaged. The workrooms were in most cases built with funds provided by the Red Cross (N.Z.) Society; most of the equipment also was supplied by them. Material was supplied by the Red Cross Society up to the Ist June, 1919. An animated controversy has arisen over the, question of payment for work done. The present regulations provide that proceeds from sales of work to the public are to be. paid into a hospital recreation fund. In the, main this rule has been well received after the reasons for its adoption have been explained. It should, however, be pointed but that this now entails a large amount of expense to the Defence Department, especially as regards leather-work and. embroidery, as no deduction is made for materials, the outlay on which is considerable. Vocational Training, Previous to my taking charge of this branch on the 11th December. 1918, a number of workshops had been built, but no vocational training had been provided. It is considered desirable to deal with the different subjects of vocational instruction seriatim : Making of Splints and Surgical Appliances. —ln the Orthopaedic Workshops at Christchurch splintmaking is taught: this will also be arranged for at Auckland, Rotorua, Trentham, and Dunedin, where the equipment for the workshops is now nearly completed. Considered as a vocational subject, there is little or no opening for splint-makers in New Zealand, but, as it involves the handling of iron and leather tools, the soldiers detailed in these workshops get a good deal of useful training which will be valuable to them in any branch of life. It also has a curative value in many cases. At the Chalmers Military Orthopaedic Hospital there are forty-six men being trained under this heading. Carpentry and Cabinetmaking. Training in carpentry and cabinet-making is not so popular as would be expected. The total number receiving training is sixty-nine. In some hospitals, as in Christchurch, men are detailed to do carpentry-work as a means of getting them used to making bodily effort. Special training is given for injured muscles and joints. From a curative point of view carpentry is undoubtedly valuable. A certain number of soldiers take tin's subject voluntarily, but they need a good deal of persuasion., and it is difficult to make them appreciate the opportunity which they have of becoming handy with tools. The articles made are mostly hospital furniture, but this is not allowed to interfere with vocational training. The rule is that- training should be firstly curative, secondly vocational, and thirdly productive. Engineering. A certain amount of training in engineering is given in the splint-shops, and al Rotorua the engineer gives special vocational training in electrical engineering (class of nine) : but the only form of engineering that is really popular is motor engineering. There is a demand for this instruction all over the Dominion, and classes established have everywhere been successful. The total number receiving training is 120. At Auckland, Wellington. Christchurch, and Hanmer special instructors Lave been appointed, and motors have been obtained for demonstrative purposes. This training will be valdable for farmers, as oil-engines are used on nearly all dairy farms and in shearingsheds, and motor-tractors also may come into general use. Boot-repairing. Classes under this heading have been established at Rotorua, Napier, Miramar, and Hanmer. They are generally successful, though not a large number attend them (the total number at present is eighteen). A good deal of useful work is done in repairing boots for the patients at the hospital. This is a trade which can be learnt- in a short time, and fair wages are assured after a, few months' work. Tailoring. An instructor in tailoring was engaged at Rotorua. but soldiers could not be induced to attend classes. At Trentham, on the, other hand, the clothes-pressing class is popular, and has a membership of ten. This no doubt is partly due to the fact that it is conducted by a V.M.C.A. officer, who is deservedly popular with the soldiers. Signwriting. —A class in signwritlng has been established at Hanmer, and if successful this subject will be introduced into other hospitals. Farming Subjects. Many efforts have been made to ensure capable instruction in farming subjects, but there are considerable difficulties in the way, the greatest of which is the apathy of the men. Officers of the Agricultural Department- can only give lectures irregularly, and cannot visitall hospitals. In Auckland the Vocation Officer considers this subject so important- that he has recommended the appointment of two or three travelling instructors to give lectures on wool-classing, stock diseases and management, dairying, and other subjects connected with the farm. As it is thought that this is the only method of securing efficient instruction this proposal has been approved. Lectures on dairying are now given at the annexe, and wool-classing instruction is also given by Mr. Hambly, and is much appreciated. Thirty-five are attending classes. In the Wellington District, farming classes have not yet been established, but the Vocation Officer proposes to make, arrangements with the Agricultural Department for this purpose. It will, however, probably be found necessary to appoint special instructors to devote their whole time to the work. Agricultural instruction will, of course, be given at the Pukeora Military Sanatorium, Waipukurau, but 1 I aye not yet been advised whether I am to take charge, of this farm. (Note. Advice has since been received.) In Christchurch efforts to give farming instruction have not been successful. The Director of Lincoln College and Dr. Hilgendorf were induced to give lectures at the Hospital in Christchurch, but these were poorly attended despite, the fact that the Vocation Officer did all that be could to collect the men together, and they were finally discontinued. A small number of soldiers attended the agricultural classes at the Technical School, but these classes may also be considered unsuccessful. Since soldiers have been accommodated at- the V.M.C.A. rooms in Christchurch the Vocation Officer has arranged for special instruction by a number of experts in wool-classing and agricultural matters. It is hoped that they will prove a- success. A poultry-farm is being established on the Cashmere Hills in connection with the Military Sanatorium there. At Hanmer, on the other hand (Convalescent Hospital), the lectures given by the Farm Manager are well attended, and the soldiers take greal interest in the work. The farm is being developed : purebred sheep and cattle have been purchased, and experimental crops are being grown. Little can be done beyond giving lectures in the winter, but, in the spring practical courses of agricultural instruction will be given, and it is thought that full advantage will be taken of them. The report of the Farm Manager is attached to the report of