REPATRIATION.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XLIV, Issue 14704, 3 June 1920, Page 3

REPATRIATION.

The Director of Repatriation, under date May 31, has issued a statement of the work accomplished in the past fifteen months, and from this we glean the following interesting information:— There are at the present time 77,666 names on the register of the Repatriation Department., and demobilisation cards are distributed throughout tho various districts as follow:— District Repatriation Officer, Auckland 17,624 District Repatriation Officer, Wellington 22,186 District Repatriation Officer, Canterbury 10,356 District Repatriation Officer, Otago 9,398 Head office '.. 18,102 77,666 No great difficulty is being experienced in securing employment for discharged soldiers, and applicants are usually placed in suitable positions within a few days of registration. Up to tlie 20th May 17,327 men had been placed by the Department, and there were on that date 167 awaiting employment. As six of the latter had been on the "employment wanted'' register for a week or more they were being paid sustenance allowances. Vocational training (with sustenance or subsidy) has been arranged for 4495 men, and 1229 have already finished their courses, leaving 3266 still being trained in special soldier classes and technical schools or in the workshops and factories of private employers. In addition to this, fees and text books have been granted to 932 students, who are attending evening classes at universities or commercial colleges, or who are studying by correspondence with recognised institutions. Officers of the "after-care" branc'h of the Department visit the trainees periodically, and reports show that the latter are, almost without exception, making splendid progress. Hitherto the number in training has increased month by month, but the latest figures indicate" that we have now reached a, point where tlie number completing training is in excess of the number commencing, so that- henceforth there will probably be a steady decrease in the number of trainees with a. consequent decrease in expenditure. Up to date £138,711 has been expended on training facilities, sustenance, subsidies, etc. Applications for financial assistance continue to come in freely, and up to 20th May 3675 loans for the purpose of acquiring or establishing businesses has been approved by t-Ee Ministerial Board, involving an expenditure- of £836.386. In addition to this 7761 men have been i granted loans for the purchase of household furniture, tcfols, etc., and, a further 2817 have received financial as- j sistance in other directions, the total 1 amount paid to or on behalf of soldiers under all headings totalling £1,134,055. The amount collected by the Department up to 30th - April: in reduction of loans granted was £138,703, and, less than 5 per cent, of, the 11,436 men who have been granted loans are in arrear with their payments. Instalments amounting to £21,616 were collected during tho month of-April. ■ A. summary of assistance rendered is as follows: Placed in emnlovment 17,327, trained or in training 5427. fin- ; ancially assisted 14,253, total 37,007.