REPATRIATING SOLDIERS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIII, Issue 293, 5 April 1921, Page 5

REPATRIATING SOLDIERS.

WHAT IB BEING DONE. A progress return (up to, March 20) issued by the Repatriation Department shows, tha*utter being 25 months in operation, there aro at the present time 79,118 names on its register. Since its inception the Department has placed 22,902 discharged soldiers in suitable employment, while the number on the unemployed register at March 20 was' 150, distributed as follows: Auckland 60, Wellington 52, Canterbury 31, Otago 27. Vocational training (witn sustenance or subsidy) had been arranged for 5534 men, and of, I hose 3902 had finished their courses, leaving a balance of 1602 still being trained in special soldier classes and technical schools or in the workshop? mid factories of private employers. An additional 1274 students who v.crc attending evening classes at universities or commercial colleges, or who were studying by coh-esocndciice with recognised institutions, had been assisted with grants towards fees and text books. During the month of March 124 men commenced training and 165 trainees completed their courses and secured employment ns skilled tradesmen. The total expenditure to date on training facilities, sustenance of trainees, etc., was 11267,334.. Up to the present after-care officers had dealt with 1114 chest cases, 57 amputees and 667 men suffering from other serious disabilities, and had in addition, during the past mouth, inspected and reported upon subsidised^trainees.;, A stormy decrease was apparent during the past tew months in the number of applications received for financial assistance. Dp -o March 20th, 4864 loans (or the purpose o acquiring or establishing businerscs Had been approved by the Ministerial Boaicl, involving an expenditure of £1,102,922. In addition to this 11,370 men had been granted loans for the purchase of household furniture, tools, etc., and_ a further 41oi had received financial assistance m ollici directions, the amount paid to or on behalf cf soldiers under all hendma's totalling £1,801.885. The amount collected by the Department up to 28 2,21 on account of loans granted was £475,351 or 30 per cent, of the amount, advanced, and grantors were in the efoat majority of cases meeting their obligations promptly. Instalments amounting to £34,563 were collected during the month ,of February.