Library Collections: Document: Full Text


The Disabled Soldier

Creator: Douglas C. McMurtrie (author)
Date: 1919
Publisher: The Macmillan Company, New York
Source: Available at selected libraries
Figures From This Artifact: Figure 2  Figure 3  Figure 4  Figure 5  Figure 6  Figure 7  Figure 8  Figure 9  Figure 10  Figure 11  Figure 12  Figure 13  Figure 14  Figure 15  Figure 16  Figure 17  Figure 18  Figure 19  Figure 20  Figure 21  Figure 22  Figure 23  Figure 24  Figure 25  Figure 26

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654  

In his speech before the Senate on May 2, 1918, the Honorable E. D. Millen, Minister for Repatriation, pointed out that since it was not possible to find employment for all disabled men in the ordinary channels of industry, it would be necessary to find "reserve employment." An arrangement was made with state governments by the federal authorities to grant the states as a gift an amount of money to make up the deficiency caused by the employment of such men as could not give the full day's work in return for the full day's wage of an able-bodied worker. For instance, if the full wage paid be 10s. per day, and the returned soldier employed can earn no more than 8s. in the day, owing to some little incapacity, the difference of 2s. will represent the measure of his inefficiency, and the Repatriation Department will make that good by a gift of the amount to the state governments concerned. Several state governments have made arrangements to employ men on such terms in afforestation.

655  

Those of New Zealand's men who have gone to the front are assured of the best possible provision for their successful re-entry into civilian life upon their return. The whole problem of the returned New Zealander is in the hands of the Discharged Soldiers' Information Department, which has established a network of local committees that assume the responsibility of finding suitable employment for the men in his own community.

656  

Especial effort has been made to get in touch with every returning soldier to ascertain his situation and his needs. Representatives of the Department board the incoming transports, or arrange to secure from the military authorities on board ship the necessary data concerning each man. This information is recorded on a card in the central register of the Returned Soldiers' Information Department, and word is sent informally regarding the home-coming man to the community to which he is to return.

657  

The duty of interviewing the discharged soldier is often delegated to local police officials, who are cautioned to make their inquiries sympathetically and tactfully. The interviewer takes with him a blank report to fill out and also a circular of information for the soldier.

658  

If a man does not require the department's assistance, the interviewer obtains his signature to that effect. Many of the men do not require assistance, as they may have business or farms to return to, or may have sufficient private means. Others may have obtained employment or promises of employment.

659  

The man who desires employment is instructed to get in touch with the local committee in his home district.

660  

For disabled men who cannot return to their former occupations free tuition has been offered in various fields. On the state farms, men are taught various branches of agriculture. At Lincoln College, Wellington, where free scholarships are offered in scientific agricultural training, those who desire clerical training are instructed by the New Zealand Society of Accountants. In addition to classroom teaching, correspondence courses are maintained for those who cannot attend in person.

661  

At Wellington Technical College instruction is provided for disabled men in building construction, decoration, painting, carpentry and joinery, plumbing, machine work, jewelry making, metal work, plastering and modeling. Other centers provide different courses of training.

662  

To remove any financial difficulties for men desiring to take training, the government decided to grant to ex-soldiers attending classes a maintenance allowance of not more than one pound a week, irrespective of pension payment. This allowance is conditioned upon the man's good conduct, regular attendance, satisfactory progress, and suitability for the chosen trade.

663  

Despite New Zealand's persevering efforts to provide suitable training for her disabled men, the results have not been encouraging, for comparatively few men have availed themselves of the opportunities offered. The results in obtaining employment for disabled men, however, have been exceptionally successful. This may be due in some part to the abnormal demand for labor in New Zealand at the present time and to the desire on the part of most of the returned soldiers to get back as quickly as possible to remunerative and productive employment.

664  

A school of re-education in India is indeed a new thing under the sun. To teach disabled soldiers of the Indian forces such trades as motor mechanics and tailoring in order to make them self-supporting must appear wonderful to us who have been accustomed to regard the hordes of mendicants in India as a natural element in that country's curious make-up.

665  

At Bombay is one of the most picturesque schools in the world. Queen Mary's Technical School for Disabled Indian Soldiers it is called, founded over a year ago by Lady Willingdon, wife of the Governor of Bombay. Here there are hundreds of India's returned fighters, men from all ranks and castes, working zealously under competent instructors who teach them trades that range from poultry raising and farming to tailoring, motor mechanics, engineering, carpentering, motion picture operating, and oil engine driving. For six months or more these olive-skinned, curly bearded trainees work in the shops until they are "graduated" and sent out to trades at which they can earn from twenty to one hundred rupees a month, or about six to thirty-two dollars. Not a great income, perhaps, but sufficient in view of the fact that the average man in India can live comfortably on about six dollars a month.

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