REPATRIATION DEPARTMENT.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16853, 5 June 1920, Page 12

REPATRIATION DEPARTMENT.

PBOGEES3 EETTJRN. Mr J. I?. Sarnson, Director of Ee-natiia-tion, I:c;; issuod tile following pxo;;iCs:: return of tho Department as at M.iy COth last, covering fifteen months' op Era lions: — Thero arc at the present timo 77,663 r.auKs, on the register of tho Repatriation Department, and demobilisation cards are distributed throughout the various districts ca follows: — Auckland 17,621 Wellington. 22,150 Canterbury ~ 10,250 ■ Otago ... ti 9 303 Head Ofiicc It!, 102 j Total (i 77,600 Employment—No great difficulty is being experienced in securing employment for discharged soldiers, and applicants arc usually placed in suitable positions witfcin a few days of registration. Up to the 20th May 17,327 men had been placed by the Department, and thero were on that date IG7 awaiting employment. Aa six of tho latter had been on tho "employment wanted" register for a week or moro they wero being paid sustenance allowances. Training—Vocational training (with sustenance or subsidy) has been arranged for 4105 me®, and 2229 have already finished thei; courses, leaving 23GG elill 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-hooks have bcon granted to 932 students, who arc attending evening- classce at Universities or commercial colleges, or who arc studying by correspondence "with recognised institutions. Officers of the "AfterCare" branch of the .Department vuit the trainees periodically, and reports ehow that tho latter are, almost without exoeption, making splendid arofcrose. Hitherto the number in training has increased month by month, but tho latest figures indicato that wo have now readied a point where the number completing training is in excess of the numbc-r commencing, &o that 'henceforth there will probably be a steady decrease in tho number o£ trainees, with a consequent dc creaeo in expenditure. Up to dato £133,711 : has been expended on training facilities, ens. tensnco, subsidies, etc. j Financial Assistance—Applications for financial assistance continue to com© in freely, and up to tho 20th Slay, CG7S loans for the j purposo of acquiring or establishing busi- j ncsses has bc-cn approved by tho Ministerial Board, _ a.ll expenditure of £306,38 G. In addition to this 7761 men have been granted loans for the purchase of household furniture, tools, etc.. ond a further 2G17 have received financial assistance in other directions, tho total amount paid to or on bcbalf of fioldiers under all headings to'talliii" £1,134,055. - I

Repayments—The amov.nt colJectcd by the Department tip to 30th April last, in reduction of loans granted wis 703, and lere than 5 per cent, of tho 11,426 men who have boen granted loans aro in arrear with their payments. Instalments amounting to 621,610 were collected during the month of April.

Tiie following is a summary of assistance given: —Pk-ced in employment, 17,327; trained or in training, 5,4*27; financially a*, eis ted, 14/263; total, 37,007.