SIX MONTHS' WORK OF REPATRIATION

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 288, 1 September 1919, Page 5

SIX MONTHS' WORK OF REPATRIATION

— o A PROGRESS REPORT. A return by tlie Repatriation Board covering six months' operations _ shows that the number of returned soldiers on the Repatriation Department's register now totals 60,309. This includes 39,014 men who have returned to the Dominion sinoe the beginning of the year. Demobilisation cards are now held by the district repatriation officers as follow:— Auckland. 13,206; Wellington, 15,002 j Canterbury, t*!o9i Otago, 7502: total, 44,539. These iiuures include cards for some 4915 men who returned prior to 1919, and have inquired regarding assistance from the Department. One thousand one hundred and seventyeight loans, totalling ,£204,549, to assist discharged soldiers to start in business, have been approved by the Ministerial Board. During the past mouth i 93,227 was actually paid on behalf of soldiers in the wav of furniture, tools,. business, sustenance, training fees, subsidised wages, assistance to apprentices, etc. Tho total number of men,at present being trained in new trades by the Department is 1615. During the month tlie- Department secured billets for 1273 men who applied for such assistance: a further,344 men sought financial assistance to enable them to start in business, and 537 appliod for grants for furniture and tools of trade etc. The amounts being paid out monthly by the various boards and committees still show a lnrgo increase, tlie figures for the period under review exceeding thoso of the previous months bv over =£23,000. The. total amount advanced to soldiers to date ie JG277.103.