REPATRIATION OF SOLDIERS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 118, 12 February 1920, Page 4

REPATRIATION OF SOLDIERS

1 ELEVEN MONTHS' OPERATIONS. A progress return covering the operations of the Repatriation Department for the eleven months ended January 20 last, was issued yesterday. The Department's register was shown to comprise the names of 76,982 men, of which number 50,317 had returned to tho Dominion since the beginning of 1919. Demobilisation cards were distributed as follow t Auckland 16,811, Wellington "1182, Canterbury 9049. Otago 9180, head office 10.830; total, 7G,982. Tho Director of Repatriation. (Mr. J. R. Samson), in tho course of his reportremarks: "It is pleasing to be able to report that the Department is nnding no great difficulty in securing suitable employment for discharged soldiers, the figures as nt January 20 showing that up to that date 14,093 men had been suitablv placed iu employment, whilst tho number on the 'unemployed" register of tlio Department did not exceed 251— about four days' placement. During 1910 no less than 50,000 men were returned to the Dominion, and tho fact that it was only found necessary to pay unemployment sustenance allowances. in 831 cases (luring tho whole of that period speaks well for the success of this important phase of the Department s operations. At tho date of this report 13 men were receiving unemployment allowances. "The vocational training of partially disabled soldiers, apprentices, etc., is receiving careful attention, and up to tne present time training has been arranged for 319G men, 357 of whom commenced during the past two months. Strict supervision is exercised over tne trainees bv experienced officers of the Department aud reports rendered by the latter liidirate that the bulk of the men are showing excellent progress. Up to the (Into of this report some GGS had their course, leaving a balance ot -»-» still buhi" trained in the various technical schools or special soldier classes, and in the workshops and factories ot private employers throughout the Do'""During the 11 months,'2GGß loans for the purpose of establishing -discharged soldiers in business (involving an expenditure of ,EGOG.GI2) have been approved bv the Ministerial Board, and during the past two months .£177.574 has been paul out on behalf of soldiers for furniture, tool', business, sustenance,- training lees, subsidised wages, assistance to ' apprentices etc. The total amount, expended to (into under these headings is ,£78d,13d the months of November and December .£2G,GB4 was .repaid by instalments, making a total of .£49,31 a received to date in reduction of loans granted." ___________