REPATRIATION

Evening Post, Volume XCVIII, Issue 31, 6 August 1919, Page 7

REPATRIATION

SATISFACTORY PROGRESS

ONLY 47 RECEIVING SUSTENANCE.

That satisfactory. progress is being made in carrying out the repatriation scheme. is evidenced in the monthly report prepared by the Director of Repatriation (Mr. J. R. Samson).

Tabular statements show that during the month 378 men were placed in employment, the figures for the respective repatriation districts being : Auckland 160, Wellington 296, Canterbury 299, Otago 223. The number of men remaining on the "Employment wanted" register was 437 (Auckland 156, Wellington 80, Canterbury 166, Otago 35). The number granted unemployment sustenance to date was 532 (Auckland 191, Wellington 84, Canterbury 222, Otago 35), while on 20th July only 47 were in receipt of unemployment sustenance throughout the Dominion—39 in Auckland and 8 in Canterbury. The Director states that the number of returned soldiers on the Department's register now totals 60,302. This includes 33,637 men who have returned to the Dominion since the beginning of the year. , cards are now lield by the District Repatriation Officers as follow :— Auckland > 11,451 Wellington '. 13,956 Canterbury 6,522 Otago , 5,960 Total 37,889 These figures include cards for some 4252 men who returned prior to 1919 and have inquired regarding assistance from the Department. To date 845 loans, totalling £189,555 to assist discharged soldiers to start in business have been approved by the Ministerial Board, ahd during the past month £70,000 was actually paid on behalf of soldiers in the way of furniture, tools, business, sustenance, training fees, subsidised wages, assistance to 'apprentices, etc. The returns show that the total number of men at present being trained in new trades by the Department is 1185, and that during the month the Department secured billets for 978 men who applied, for such assistance. A further 262 men sought financial assistance to enable them to start in business, and 630 applied for grants for furniture and tools of trade, etc. t The amounts being paid out monthly by the various boards and' committees still show a large increase, the figures for the period under review exceeding those of the previous month by over £16,000. The total amount advanced to soldiers to date is £183,874.