trade are required in most cases, and this would seem to make the position unattainable by men with no tailoring experience, but it may be noted that a man who has already been a sewing tailor would not be debarred, by the loss of one or two fingers of his left hand, from filling a cutter's post. As a matter of fact, men thus disabled have already been trained with success as cutters. (2) Making-up.-Here there would appear to be an excellent prospect for a partially disabled man, so long as he possessed the full use of both his hands with all his fingers and had good eye-sight. The loss of one leg, or even both, would not be a serious handicap; indeed, there has always been among tailors a certain number who were incapacitated by some injury to the legs. The only severe muscular exertion is in connection with the manipulation of a heavy iron used in pressing. The work otherwise is light and the conditions under which it is done in the workshops are normal, there is no noise of machinery, no vibration, no extremes of temperature or of moisture or dryness in the air. It would afford a very good opening for a young or youngish man, though less suitable to men over thirty. The work is done either in the private workshops which many of the firms engaged in the best class of work possess, or at the worker's own home, or in common workshops conducted on a cooperative basis, in which each tailor hires a "sitting." For the highest class of work considerable experience and dexterity are essential. A first-rate tailor is an artist, and there is much scope for individual taste and ingenuity. Each man must be able to make garments throughout and, as a rule, he specializes in one particular type, so that there are three branches of the trade: (1) Coat making, (2) trousers making, and (3) vest making, which is often done by women. Length of training required. A thorough training is necessary, but the length of time would vary with the learner's adaptability. A year in a technical school during the usual hours of day trade schools would provide a good foundation, and, except in those sections of the trade in which craftsmanship of a high order is required, a man would afterwards probably be qualified for employment that would yield a living wage and should need no further maintenance allowance from the Ministry of Pensions. After introduction to the workshop he would acquire the knowledge of details and the varied skill which lie beyond the range of a school. In London and in many of the large towns classes exist for the training of tailors, but where such do not exist arrangements could be made with the local educational authorities for the formation of such classes. A full-time day training course in tailoring has for some time past been in existence at Regent Street Polytechnic, and a special 12 months' course of training for disabled sailors and soldiers has recently been established, with the concurrence of the associations of employers and workpeople concerned. This class has already been approved by the War Pensions Statutory Committee, and arrangements are being made at the Merchant Venturers' Technical College, Bristol, to start a course of a similar nature. It is suggested by the Trade Advisory Committee (disabled sailors and soldiers) that further training centers be established in Glasgow, Leeds, and Manchester as an experiment. If a further demand arise, it is suggested that training centers might also be established in Aberdeen, Birmingham, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Liverpool, and Plymouth. The following recommendations have been made by the Trade Advisory Com mittee: (1) That training be given in day trade training schools for a period of 12 months for the hours customary in such schools. (2) That there be, in the case of each man accepted for training, a probationary period of four weeks, and that during the whole period of training the man remain under continuous supervision. (3) That a syllabus of the training which should be given in training schools be framed by the Trade Advisory Committee. (4) That local technical committees, consisting of representatives of employers and workpeople in the trade, be appointed in connection with each training center to superintend the training given. (5) That questions arising with regard to the wages of individual disabled men be referred to the local advisory wages boards, and that the advisory wages boards should take steps to secure the advice of persons familiar with and representative of the trade. (6) That the Trade Advisory Committee be kept informed of the number of disabled men to be trained for the tailoring trade, and have power to impose restrictions on the training of any number in excess of that which the trade can reasonably be expected to absorb. IV. AGRICULTURAL MOTOR TRACTOR WORK IN ENGLAND AND WALES. (The report states in effect: The use of motor machines for farm work is in its infancy in the United Kingdom, but it is likely to develop considerably. The best types of machines can be used not only in moving tractors but also as stationary power engines. As continuous cropping is also likely to be largely increased, the industry will probably offer a steady and secure field of employment. At present the work is being organized by the Board of Agriculture. There are openings for at least a thousand men, and suitable men will probably find work in their own counties.) Suitability for disabled men. The work for which men are required immediately is tractor plowing, and this is, of course, likely to be a very important part of the permanent work of the tractor after the war. As a general rule, this requires two men, one on the tractor and one on the plow. They should be capable of changing places and of helping one another, and both men should not have the same disabilities. In selecting suitable men regard should be had to both these processes. Owing, however, to the variety of machines in use, it is impossible to say with certainty exactly what disablements would disqualify. Moreover, the types of machines and the methods of working are still to some extent in an experimental stage. The tractor driver is usually seated. He is subject to a good deal of noise and vibration. The steering is harder work than on an ordinary motor. In some types there is considerable resistance; in others the steering wheel has to be spun rapidly with one hand when turning and spun back again when the turn is finished. Continuous attention is needed to keep a straight line, but the pace is slow, and sharp curves only occur at intervals. The reversing lever has also to be operated. The starting handle is considerably harder to work than that of an ordinary car. The driver must be able to reach over to get at parts that require adjustment. The plowman rides on the plow; he is subject to oscillation. He has to work several levers-usually one for steering and one on each side for raising or lowering the plowshares, and sometimes one for determining the number of shares in operation at the same time, which may vary from one to four. These levers often require considerable strength and a wide hand grip; but, as in the tractor driving, the special muscular exertion is only needed at intervals. With some types of machine the work could be done quite satisfactorily by a man with an artificial leg below the knee, provided that he were fairly active. Generally speaking, it may be said that for the two processes full use of both hands and arms is needed, but the loss of one or two fingers would probably be no great obstacle so long as the hands were sufficiently sound to grip well and to tighten bolts, etc., connected with the machinery. Only moderately good sight and hearing are required. The work is fairly heavy in character and involves considerable noise and vibration. There is little liability to accident. The following grouping may be of assistance in a provisional selection of men for this work: (1) Men sound in limb and muscularly strong, but disabled from their previous occupations by the after effects of shell shock, gas poisoning, neurasthenia, or tuberculosis, provided that they can, after suitably graduated training, do a full day's work in the open, especially men already experienced in other classes of motor driving, but unable to return to their former occupation owing to their inability to bear the strain of driving where much traffic is concerned. (2) Men suffering from specific injuries, including, e. g., an artificial leg below the knee, but having the full use of both shoulders, arms, and hands. Training. The length of training needed depends largely upon the previous experience of the men concerned. A man already qualified as a motor driver should be able to learn the special mechanism of a tractor in from 5 to 10 days. A man with no previous knowledge of motors could learn to drive in about the same time, but would hardly become proficient, in the sense of being able not only to drive but also to keep the machine in order, in less than three months. either case the management of the plow would be part of the training. The work could be learned by an intelligent man even if formerly accustomed to unskilled work, but any mechanical knowledge or experience of farm work, especially of plowing, would be of value. Two alternative methods of training will soon be in operation: In (a) A short course of training in actual driving and plowing, provided locally by the Board of Agriculture through its local tractor representatives, with a guarantee of immediate temporary local employment at the end of the course by the board itself, which will provide its own organization for supervision and repairs. The arrangements made by the board will be such as to ensure a reasonable prospect that the men employed by them after this elementary training will acquire, during their period of employment by the board, the additional skill necessary to qualify them for permanent private employment afterwards, including the care of the machine. (b) A course of theoretical and practical training at a technical school for three months, followed by a short course of actual driving and plowing under the local tractor representative of the Board of Agriculture as in (a). At the Battersea Polytechnic a three months' course has been in operation for some time for training disabled sailors and soldiers in motor tractor work and plowing, including a knowledge of the theory of the motor engine, and such workshop processes as will enable a man to take charge of the machine and do ordinary repairs. This course has been approved by the Statutory Committee. A few other local war-pensions committees are arranging for similar experimental courses in connection with local technical schools. THE PROBLEM IN THE UNITED STATES. Our military and naval forces are now actively engaged in fighting and before many months we shall be confronted by the necessity of restoring physically and mentally as completely and as quickly as possible the wounded and broken men who will inevitably come streaming back from the battle front, and putting them back into industry, where they can give a full "quid” for every "quo" they receive in the form of wages or payment for what they produce. Unfortunately we have done all too little in the way of proper medical, surgical, and hospital treatment of men injured in industry, and we have done almost nothing to restore the crippled man to industry. We must, therefore, meet the emergency practically as a new problem. Fortunately the Surgeon General of the Army and his staff are fully cognizant of the importance of this work and have enlisted the enthusiastic interest and cooperation of physicians and surgeons throughout the country in the medical and surgical aspects of the great task before them. Every agency, governmental or private, which can contribute anything to the solution of the problem of how to restore the wounded man to industry is hard at work assisting in organizing a system of training that will not only meet present requirements but that can be continued after the war to care for the industrial cripples. The Division of Military and Naval Insurance of the Bureau of War Risk Insurance, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and the Federal Board for Vocational Education all have extremely important functions to perform toward the working out of such a system. They will be materially assisted in their constructive work by what has already been accomplished in Great Britain. SOURCES. Naval and Military War Pension Act, 1915. Ministry of Pensions Act, 1916. Naval and Military War Pensions (Transfer of Powers) Act, 1917. War Pensions Statutory Committee. Circular (Trade Advisory Committees). April 20, 1917. Ministry of Labor. Employment Department. Advisory Wages Boards for disabled sailors and soldiers. Explanatory Memorandum. 1917. Inquiry into trades and training for disabled soldiers and sailors. Schedule of questions. (D. S. S. 2) and accompanying explanatory Memorandum (D. S. S. 3). Ministry of Labor. Employment Department. Reports upon openings in industry suitable for disabled sailors and soldiers. I. Attendants at electricity substations. April, 1917. II. Employment in picture theaters. May, 1917. III. Tailoring. June, 1917. IV. Agricultural motor tractor work in England and Wales, July, 1917. BRITISH LABOR PARTY AND THE DISABLED.' BY G. J. WARDLE, M. P. The general attitude of the Labor Party to the question of the treatment of disablement caused in the war is that every possible opportunity for securing the best treatment should be afforded, and that every appliance that ingenuity can provide or skill suggest should be devoted to the restoration and aid of those who have become disabled. The Labor Party welcome the fact that Government is making itself responsible for the provision of artificial limbs, and for their repair and refitment. They are also glad to know that endeavor is being made to bring these facilities within reach in every district. It is most important that treatment should be available locally for every form of disability, so that men may not have to go long distances for it. As regards pensions, there is now, thanks to the good offices of the late pensions minister and those who are working with him, no reason to complain of the system that is being pursued. The rates are on a better scale than ever before, and while it is never possible to say that further improvements may not have to be introduced hereafter, there is no ground for any general criticism at the moment. In the matter of the training and reeducation of the disabled, to aid them to become self-supporting members of the community, the Labor Party strongly favor the opening of every possible avenue of training to every man who desires to avail himself of it. This applies not only to men who had no special trade before they joined up, it also concerns those already in possession of training, whose wage-earning capacity is capable of being improved by further instruction. It is not quite certain that adequate training facilities are yet in view in all parts of the country; but the setting up of local committees, in the smaller as well as in the larger districts, to deal with this matter, is a step in the right direction. The object to be kept in view should be the bringing of efficient training within easy reach of all. Concerning the disabled man's position in regard to trades-unions, the situation is simple. Subject to there being no diminution in standard of living, or possibility of the disabled man being used to defeat the legitimate objects which the trades-unions have in view, the trades-unions are not only sympathetic but desire to assist 1 Reprinted from Recalled to Life, No. 2, September, 1917, pp. 232 and 233. |