REPATRIATION

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 266, 6 August 1919, Page 10

REPATRIATION

. THE WORK IN OTAGO. Tho repatriation scheme is stated to be working smoothly in Ot-nijo district. The report from the district board covering the operations for July indicates that in spite of the adverse industrial conditions duo to the .railway curtailment, thero is practically no unemployment among returned soldiers, wihile the various features of the 'Repatriation Board's work aro all showing good results. Sustenance is given to unemployed soldiers, but the Board reports that a very few applications have been received, and as casual work is fairly plentiful, it does not anticipate any further payments for some time. The total expenditure under this head during tho board's existence is onlv £S0- Notwithstanding the set-back due to fihe railway restrictions, employment has been plentiful, due to the Central Battery requiring recruits, nnd to the fact that tho shipping position is much brighter, and that a big engineering contract at Port Chalmers hfis commenced, which will absorb finite a number of men. Applications for farm labour are also plentiful. Tho number of men placed in positions during the month was 223.

The district board,and its local committees expended £U% during the month to assist soldiere in selling up in business. So far. it has had only one experience of failure on ths part of anassisted soldier, and in this caso tho amount involved was small. "T.ho other businesses, with possibly one exception." states the report, "are all in a flourishing condition, and a verv satisfactory feature is'that all applicant* are paying their instalments on due date." The financial statement shows that during the period covered iCSfiB was repaid on account of advances. There is not much required to purchase tools of Irndo, but tilio board has a statement showing the cost of outfits in the-dilYerent trades, and Ha arrangements aro on a satisfactory basis, the repayments heius: regular.