A RECORD OF SUCCESS.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17111, 5 April 1921, Page 9

A RECORD OF SUCCESS.

EEPATBIATION DEPARTMENT. Some instructive figures regarding tSie operations of the Repatriation Department are given by Mr J. R. Sampson, theTHrector, in his report for the mouth ended March 20th. "Since its inception," states Mr Sampson, "tho Department has placed 22,902 discharged soldiers, in suitable employment, and the number on tlie Unemployment Wanted Register at the date of this report is 130, distributed throughout the various districts as fol-. lows: Auckland 60, Wellington 32, Canterbury 31, Otago 27. Vocational training (with sustenance, or subsidy) has l>een arranged for 5651 men, and of these 3902 have finished their courses, leaving, a balance of 1682 still being trained in .special soldier classes and technical schools or* in the workshops and factories of private -employers. An additional 1274 •students -who arc attending evening classes at universities or commercial colleges, or who arc studying by correspondence! with recognised- institutions, have been assisted with grant? toward fees and text books. Officers of the Department keep in touch with all the trainees; ■•jnidi l!ho. latest reports show ..that the latter are making excellent progress. • Duvin,? the month of March 12-i .raon wmenoed training, and 165 trainees ■completed their eourscs and secured employment as .'"skilled'.' tradesmen'. l!iio total expenditure to date on .training •facilities, sustenance of trainees, etc., is £267,331. Tho reports of tho After-iCare Officers for tliejinst month i?how that much success is. attending t'heir (efforts to place numbers of disabled men in occupations which are considered more suitable than those in which fchey have-bcen engaged. 1 Up to the present, After-Care Officers have dealt with 1114 chost cases, 573 amputees, and 607.10011 eiifforin;-; from other serious disabilities, and have in addition during tho past month .;inspected and reported upon subsidised trainees. ■■'.-■.

A steady decrease is apparent durins: the past tew months in the number of applications received foe iiiianpial assistance. Up to March. 20th, 4864 loans for tho purpose of acquiring or establishing businesses .had boon approved by the Ministerial Boon], involving an *>xpendituro of £1,102,922. In addition to this, 11,370 men have been granted loans for the.purchase of household furniture, tools, etc., and a further 4187 have .received financial assistance in ,-

other directions, the amount paid to or on behalf of soldiers under all headings totalling £1,801,883. ■ - The amount collected by the Department up to February 38th, 19£ l, on account of loans granted was -£475,351, and grantors are, in the great majority of cases, meeting thetr obligations promptly. ■ Instalments amounting to £34,533 were -collected during . the montb. of February. At February 28th inpayments totalled £452.828, or SQ per cent, of the amount advanced bj way of loan, £1,524,352. ►