REPATRIATION

Southland Times, Issue 19515, 15 May 1922, Page 6

REPATRIATION

DEPARTMENTS PROGRESS RETURN. The -progress return of the Repatriation Department as at April 20 states that the Department has placed 27,102 discharged soldiers in employment, and there are at the present time 258 names on the employment wanted register—Auckland, 81; Wellington, 85; Canterbury, 56; Otago, 36. During the past month unemployment sustenance was paid in four cases of hardship, one in the Canterbury district and three in Wellington. In addition to 1417 students who have been assisted financially with grants for the payment of fees and the purchase of text books, the Department has arranged voca tional training for 6027 partially disabled soldiers, apprentices, etc., and 5642 of this number have completed their courses and have been absorbed in various industries. During the month of April 23 men commenced training, and 58 trainees completed their courses. There are 385 men still being trained, vix., 273 subsidised workers and apprentices in private workshops or factories, 59 trainees at Ruakura and Tauherenikau training Farms, etc., and 53 others at universities, etc. The total amount expended to date on the provision of facilities for training and for the sustenance of trainees is £384,310. Loans to assist discharged soldiers to establish themselves in businesses or professions have been granted in 6120 cases at a cost of £1,129,474. A further 14,362 men have received advances totalling £685,326 for the purchase of household furniture or tools-of-trade, and 4187 have been granted financial assistance in other directions, the amount paid to or on behalf of soldiers under all headings being £2,211,885. Of the total amount of £2,211,885 ex pended on behalf of soldiers, £1,814,800 represents loan advances for the establishment of businesses or for the purchase of household furniture, etc., and up to March 31 last the Department had collected in respect thereof £944,806. Expenditure on soldiers during the past three months amounted to £44,922, whilst collections from soldiers totalled £95,159.