REPATRIATION

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 95, 16 January 1919, Page 4

REPATRIATION

CHOOSING DISTRICT BODIES. •■ \At the present time the Repatriation Board is considering the appointment of district repatriation boards for Auckland, Wellington, Canterbury, and Otago—the four military districts. Communications have been Sent on behalf of the board to societies and organisations representative of all sec-; tions of the community likely, to be concerned in the work of repatriation, asking them to make recommendations of a suitable member from each:body to sit on the district board. These communications have been sent to the following bodies or persons in the four chief centres -.—Returned soldiers' associations, national -Efficiency commissioners, war .relief associations and patriotic societies, industrial associations, chambers of commerce,. employers' associations; trades and labour councils, fanners" unions, Y.M.C.A., and district councils of friendly societies. It is proposed that the district boards shall consist of about twelve or fourteen men, and the intention is that one member from every ouo of these organisations named shall be appointed to the board. The, Central Board intends also to appoint local committees with functions somewhat similar to those of the district, boards, for the work to be done in the centres like Invercargill, Timaru, Wanganui, N.vpier, 'Palmerstoa, Gisborno, and iNew Plymouth, and similar communication!! have been sent to the local societies in those towns asking for nominations to.the several local committees. ..

.Regulations are in course of preparation. Draft proposals have already been considered by the board, and they are now at tho Crown Law Office for revision. These- regulations will deal with' the, administration of the whole business of repatriation. They will defino the powers of ■ the boards and the district committees, and the relationship of these bodies to one another, will provide for discipline of soldiers being repatriated, will provide for the control of institutions that may be established by the .board for such purposes ns. the training of men in. new , occupations, and most 'especially they will, deal with the matter of the grantin <i of financial assistance to returned soldiers.