COST OF REPATRIATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17597, 9 October 1920, Page 8

COST OF REPATRIATION.

EXPENDITURE TO DATE. ' FARMS 'AND BUSINESSES. ; OVER £22,000,000 .INVOLVED. [BT 'TiP*pX?lli?B'.-T-SPEC4AI. JOEPOBTEH.3 - *" "wmiLINGTON. Friday. ' Speaking to the second reading of the Soldier Settlement Loan Bill k this afternoon, the Prime Minister gave a number of figures showing the finances involved in the repatriationiof members'of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force up to September 3q; 1920. Under the Discharged Soldiers' Settlement Act, the advances total £16,040,200. ,A, sum: of £4,017,332 has been, spent on the purchase of 253 estates, comprising 334,093 acres under the Lands for Settlement Act. These have been subdivided and offered for soldier settlement. There are in addition 42 estates, comprising 153,180 acres, which have-been purchased at a cost of £1,235,962 and are now being subdivided and prepared for settlement. Advances under the Repatriation Act for the establishment of businesses, for the purchase of furniture, tools, and other purposes have made up £1,472,512, making a grand total of expenditure through all these avenues of £22,766,006. The number of men helped by the Lands Department has been as follows:—Settled on subdivided purchased estates, 1348, on an aggregate area of 354,013 acres; on estates purchased by the Crown on behalfof soldiers or groups of soldiers,- 213, on 41,737 acres; on Crown and national endowment lands, 1330. on 969,204 acres; assisted to purchase land privately, 49,89. on 1,131,717 acres: making a total of 7880 settled on 2,496,671 acres. In addition, 7938 have been assisted to purchase or erect town dwellings, making the total assisted 16,818. The Repatriation Department has placed in employment 20,018 men, and has trained or in training 6234, and has financially assisted 17,358, making the total dealt with under this department 43,610, and the total repatriated 59.528.