REPATRIATION IN AUSTRALIA

Evening Star, Issue 17033, 2 May 1919, Page 4

REPATRIATION IN AUSTRALIA

Senator Millen has announced the new scheme for decentralising the work of the Repatriation Department by increasing the work and responsibilities of the local committees. The draft regulations covering tha scheme show that three out of four case? which, under the old regulations, were referred to the Slat© Office, may now ba handled by the local committees in country areas, wluls a similar percentage of applications in the metropolitan area will be dealt with by the deputy-controller. The result aimed at is the elimination of delay. Executives of the local committees may grant sustenance to : (1) Applicants awaiting employment or during couvalescencs for a period of four weeks; (2) the issua of orders for necessaries for tho wife or children of a soldier, in lieu of a j ortion of the sustenance; (3) applicants awaiting employment for one week only, if a repeat application for longer than one week after careful consideration of the case and approved by a deputy-con-troller ; (4) applicants who have been allotted land but are awaiting possession; (5) applicants approved for land settlement, but awaiting an allotment of laud; (6) land settlers in special cases; (7) applicants awaiting businesses for a period of three weeks; (8) applicants approved for vocational training (plus travelling allowance where necessary) ; (3) applicants awaiting training for a period of two weeks; (10) applicants who are indentured apprentices; (11) applicants who are placed in industrial workshops; (12) applicants for surgical aids or out-patient treatment; (15) widows without children under training. Tho committee may grant living allowances to men undergoing medical treatment ; may grant vocational training to soldiers desiring to increase their efficiency, and may, on the advice of tli© local medical officer and the principal of tbo training institution, enter applicants for training, provided that the class of training is approved of by the deputy-controller, and that there is reasonable prospect of employment within the local committee area. Tho committees may (1) grant fares to men going to employment { (2) grant fare! on the advice of the local medical officer to applicants travelling to obtain medical treatment or nurgkal aid, plus travelling expenses at the rate prescribed (3) grant fares and freights whore applicant is (a) entering into tho occupation of land, (b) establishing himself in business, (c) desires to establish himself where he has secured employment. The committees may also grant the funeral expenses of a soldier, not exceeding £lO. The Minister hopes that local commit toes will be able to work under the net conditions from the first week in May.