THE RETURNED SOLDIER

Maoriland Worker, Volume 10, Issue 422, 9 April 1919, Page 6

THE RETURNED SOLDIER

''•-,'• How He Fares

KEPATEIAXIO? PEOVISIOSS,

After repeated requests, and when unmistakeable signs' of the close of the war became evident, the New Zealand Government passed a Repatriation Act the purpose of which was to provide machinery to deal with the rehabilitation of the returned soldiers. It was an obvious necessity that/something should be done, and perhaps some day we shall know why the Government acted so tardily in the matter. Some two thousand soldiers had left New Zealand each month for about four years, aud now they were expect'Tl to all return in nine, mouths-! No wonder certain men and women in the."community had serious misgivings regarding .(he adequacy of the provisions made to absorb the soldiers and others thus dispensed with through the ending of the war ' The problem is now realised by many people, hut the way to solve it is not so easily discovered. Beyond setting up repatriation boards and giving them very wide powers under the Act, the Government has scarcely ventured to suggest how all Ihe tnon tihall.be successfully repatriated. The matter has been left m the hands of (he boards, which, are at present sailing an uncharted sea. . The accelerated pace of the men's return and the growing knowledge among the men aud their dependents of the willingness o.f the repatriation heard'; to help them, has thrown 'a. very large amount, of work upon the officers and various boards. Applications have been received for assistance to establish returned soldiers m various businesses. The boards may make loans up to £300 for this purpose, but have to be assured of.certain points before they do «o, Evidence is required that an applicant has actually suffered Toss'through'war service; that the purpose for which the loan is required is sound, and that advantage will accrue to the applicant and tbc SLate il' the loan is granted. The boards apparently "ill not assist ■any applicant in a'business Tor which he is clearly unit 1 ted or to ;>u occupation which is so overcrowded, that prospects of success are limited. Neither are the Boards willing that merely because a returned soldier is purchasing through the -board, a | higher price shall be charged for any business it is intended to purchase". Soldiers may be trained in occupations in 'which they arc likely to succeed, their fees may be paid, and their i earnings, may be supplemented by sustenance grants determined 7 ivy the board.according to the circumstances in each. case. Returned soldiers fulfilling. certain requirements may borrow money to enable them to purchase land and 1 stock for farming, aud on very easy terms they may borrow to enable, them to build homes for themselves and families. Returned men desiring to take advantage of these latter, benefits should apply for information tci : the officer in charge of the Land Board i for their district. ; A provision that is very popular is i the power to grant a loan up;to'-£SO |to a returned soldier or soldier's widow for the purpose of purchasing i furniture. The repatriation bbairdE desire information to ' safeguard the Government in these, cases, and the difficulty of finding, ready money on their return in the case of .married soldiers has caused a very large-num-ber already to apply for this loan, The terms of repayment are arranged to press as lightly as possible, on the [applicant. Grants or loans may also i be made for tools, etc' It is a matter for the returned'sofflicrs to see that tbc boards carry out i heir powers according, to the Act and with a due regard to .justice and generosity to- the mep and rheir.families. ■ The -Worker., will .be -.pleased tc answer, •■luixnigb Us "Post-bag column, any queries aud give any information which may be obtainable ov. repatriation matters.-