PROGRESS OF REPATRIATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17335, 5 December 1919, Page 6

PROGRESS OF REPATRIATION.

A remarkable situation in regard to the demobilisation of the New Zealand Expeditionary Forces is disclosed by the return published today. Since the begining of this year, 49,042 soldiers have returned to the Dominion and demobilisation cards for them referred to the Repatriation Department. The position on November 29 was that only 218 men were on the lists as " awaiting employment," while at the date of the report only 11 men were in receipt of the unemployment allowance pending their engagement. The details of the employment return for the repatriation districts are as follow ; — ' " „ , ,_ . . ReceiYinc Employed. Waiting. Allowance. Auckland .. 2760 74 3 Wellington .. 4901 53 3 Canterbury . . 283S 52 4 Otaeo . . . . 1994 39 1 Total .. 12,493 218 11 The position in regard to vocational training is equally satisfactory. A total of 525 have completed their training, while 1781 are now employed under the Department's subsidised wages scheme, and 803 are receiving sustenance while attending technical classes. Altogether 75,707 demobilisation cards are on the Department's files, but apparently fewer than 18,000 discharged soldiers have had to seek its assistance in finding employment, in equipping themselves for civil occupations, or in starting in business. In addition to these figures is the record of that great branch of repatriation, the settlement of soldiers on the land. The outstanding .fact, however, is that the whole force mobilised for active service is being re-established in civil life smoothly and rapidly, a result that demonstrates the efficiency and the enthusiasm of the Repatriation Department and all its agencies and the prosperity of the country. No doubt the process of repatriation has been greatly facilitated by the shortage of labour in every industry, but the object of the Department has been to place every soldier in the occupation for which he is best fitted, and evidence is not wanting that it has achieved a large measure of success. Within a few weeks, the Repatriation Board should be in a position to state definitely the number of men for whom employment must be reserved, and the way will then be clear for the vigorous policy of immigration which forms one of the chief items in the Government's programme.