REPATRIATION.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIII, Issue 444, 8 July 1922, Page 2

REPATRIATION.

DEPARTMENT’S PROGRESS REPORT.

A progress-, return of (ho Repatriation Department,' as at 20ih June, stales: the department lias placed 27,658, discharged soldiers in employment find there are at tlie present time 376 names on the Employment; Wanted” register. In addition to 1427 students who have been assisted financially with grants for the paynient of fees and the purchase of text books, the department has arranged vocational training for 6056 partially disabled soldiers, apprentices, etc., and 5735 of this number have completed their courses and have been absorbed in various industries. During the month of June 12 men commenced training and 42 trainees' 'completed their courses. There are 321 men still being trained, viz., 221 subsidised - workers and apprentices in private workshops olfactories; 40 trainees at Ruakura and Tauhorenikau Training Farms, etc., and 51 others at Universities, etc. The total amount expended to date on the provision of facilities for training and for the sustenance of trainees is £388,348. Loans to assist discharged soldiers to establish themselves in businesses or have been granted in .6288 cases at a cost of £1,134,587. A further 14,865 men have received advances totalling £704,956 for the purchase of household furniture or tools-of-trade, and 4375 have been granted financial assistance in other directions, the amount paid to or on behalf of soldiers; under all headings being £2,240,998. This sum, £1,839,540, represents lotlu advances for the establishment of businesses or for the purchase of household furniture, etc., and up to the 31st May last the department had collected in respect thereof £1,004,024. Over 4000 loans have been entirely repaid and principal repayments now amount to 52 per cent of the total loan advances.