REPATRIATION

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 212, 2 June 1920, Page 7

REPATRIATION

DEPAKTJIENTAL I'EOGEESS EEPOET. j

Tiio Eepatriation Department in a progress return as at May 20 U5 months' operations) gives the following information:—"Tltcro are at tho nrcsent timo 77,666 names on the register of tho Eepatriation Department, and demobilisation cards are distributed throughout the various districts as follow: District Eepatriation Officer, Auckland, 17,624; District Eenatriation Officer, Wellington, 22,186; District Eepatriation Officer. Canterbury, 10.356; District Eepatriation Officer, Otago, 9398: head office. 18,102. Total, 77,666. "So great difficulty is being experienced iu securing employment for discharged soldiers, and applicants are usually placed in suitable positions within a few days • oE registration. Up to May 20 17,327 men had been placed by the Department, and there were on that date 167 awaiting employment. Asjix of tho latter had been on the "Employment Wanted" register for a week or more they were being paid subtenance allowances.

"Vocational training (with sustenance or subsidy) has been arranged for 4495 men and 1229 have already finished thelr ; courses, leaving 3266 still being trained in special soldier classes and technical schools or in tho workshops and factories of private employee. In addition to this, fees and text-books have been granted' to 932 students who are attending evening classes at universities or commercial colleges, or who are studying by corra spondenco with recognised . institutions. Officers of the "after-caro" branch of tho Department visit the trairajs periodically, and reports show that the latter are, al most without exception, making splendid progress. Hitherto tlw number in training has increased month by month, but the latest figures indicate that we havo now reached a point where tho number completing training 1b iu excess of tho number commencing, so that henoeforth there will probably be a steady decreaso in the .number of trainees with a consequent decrease in expenditure. Up to date £138,711 has been expended on training facilities sustenance, subsidies, eto.

''Applications for financial assistance continue to como in freely, and uu to May 20 3675 loans for the purpose of ao' quiring or establishing businesses had been approved by the Ministerial Board, involving an expenditure: of £836,386. I m addition to tins 7'ftl men havo been granted loans for the purchase of household furniture, tools, etc., and a further 2817 have received financial assistance in other directions, the total amount paid to or on behalf of soldiers under all headings totalline £1.134,055.

"Tho amount collected by tlio Dopartnient up to April oj, IWU, m reduction of loans granted, was £138,703, and less than 5 per cent, of the 11436 men"who havo been granted loans aro in> arrcar with their payments. Instalments: amounting to £21,616 wore collected during tho month of April. "Summary of assistance renderod: Placed in employment, 17,327; trained or in training, 54§7; financlaljy assisted, 14,253; total.