H.-30.

6

Every effort is being made to ensure all the operations on the farm being of as much educational value in a practical way as is possible. (/.) Seed-raising Farm. —With a view to providing healthful outdoor occupation for discharged soldiers the Otago District Repatriation Board proposes that a seed-raising farm should be established on an area of the Westcott Settlement in Central Otago. The scheme has been submitted to the Department of Agriculture, whose experts report very favourably regarding the proposition. The land is reported to be peculiarly adapted for the purposes suggested, and. in view of the fact that the value of the seeds imported to New 'Zealand in 1915 was £327,590, it is believed that the farm will, in addition to providing congenial occupation for a number of returned men, prove to be a sound commercial undertaking. The Repatriation Board has decided to provide the necessary funds, and matters are in train for an immediate start. The farm will be managed by a special committee of experts comprising gentlemen with an intimate knowledge of the capabilities of the land as well as first-hand experience in seed-raising. (g.) Farm, Training (General). —Discharged soldiers requiring training in general farm-work — i.e., men wdio have had no previous experience; and who may later desire to take up land under the Discharged Soldiers Settlement Act—are given training with a practical farmer under the Department's subsidized-wages scheme. The wage paid by the farmer is subsidized by the Department in order to assure the trainee an income of £2 per week and his keep over and above pension allowance, and any increase in wages granted by the employer during the training does not affect the Department's subsidy. At the present time seventy-two men are being trained under this scheme, and indications go to show that as the fit men are discharged larger numbers are likely to seek assistance in this direction in the future. (7.) Afforestation. —A, number of discharged soldiers have recently expressed a desire to accept work on the State plantations at Waireka and Tapanui, and arrangements have been made with the Forestry Department for their employment. Hutments have been erected at both these camps for the accommodation of the men, and the equipment necessary —blankets, utensils, &c. — is provided by the Repatriation Department. The work is of a fairly light nature, and especially suited to discharged soldiers desiring outdoor employment. At the present time there are thirtythree men employed at Waireka (near Rotorua) and forty-four at Tapanui (Otago). (8.) Apprentices.—Discharged soldiers whose apprenticeship has been broken by war service and who are compelled to resume work at a small wage are financially assisted by the Department in order that their income may be not less than £3 per week, irrespective of any pension they may be receiving. No difficulty is being experienced in apprentices arranging to complete their apprenticeships, and in the majority of cases the employers are paying a higher wage than the award scale. (9.) Training of Soldiers' Widows. —Training facilities in useful occupations for soldiers' widows without children, and sustenance whilst undergoing training at such rate as will bring their income, inclusive of pension, up to £1 15s. per week, may be afforded by the Department. (10.) Blind Soldiers.—Up to the present eight discharged soldiers have returned to the Dominion suffering from total blindness, and each of these men is drawing the full pension with an allowance for his attendant. Immediately upon his return the Repatriation Department communicates with each man to see how lie can be best, assisted. Notice of each man's arrival in the Dominion is also forwarded to the Secretary, Jubilee Institute for the Blind, Auckland, and to the Secretary, Commercial Travellers' and Warehousemen's Blind Soldiers' and Sailors' Fund, Victoria Street, Wellington. The total number of men for whom training has been arranged to date under the various schemes is 1,927, and of this number 1,615 are still in training Of the 312 who have finished their training the majority completed their course satisfactorily and were placed in suitable positions. A few, however, were unfortunately compelled to give up on account of ill health, whilst in a few cases the training had to be discontinued owing to the misconduct of the trainees. The following table shows the number of men at present being trained in the various groups of industry in each of the four districts : —

Group. Auckland. Wellington. (lanterbury. Otago. Total. Wood Leather Vletal clothing Commercial Farming Professional Dther groups 87 36 162 8 75 52 76 50 j_ 40 25 118 18 71 68 22 41 30 28 80 13 57 5 18 48 66 24 109 14 62 16 72 15 223 113 469 53 268 141 188 160 Totals .. 552 406 279 378 1,615