REPATRIATION ACTIVITIES

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 238, 2 July 1920, Page 8

REPATRIATION ACTIVITIES

— . FEW UNEMPLOYED. ,MEN. The progress return <5f tha Repatriation Department for the sixteen months ended Juno 20 states that .77,828 . names were on the register of the Department, and demobilisation cards were distributed throughout tho various districts as fellow Auckland, 17,800; Wellington, 22,359; Canterbury, 10,408; Otago, '9;1j2; H«ul Office, 17,829. .

The, report continues ' "No great- difficulty is being experienced in scouring enipT.oynient' for disclinrged Soldiers, and app.icants ure usunil}' placed in suitable positions within a few days of registration. Up to June 20, 18,051 men had been placcd by tho Department, and there were on that date 151 awaiting employment. As i'vo of tlio latter hud been on the Employment Wanted Register for ft week or more they were being paid sustenance allowances.. It was feared in scone quarters that there might possibly be a recrudescence of unemployment amongst discharged soldiers during the winter months, but happily this fear has proved to be groundless, as it is interceting to note that tlio number unemployed on June 20 (mid-winter) was nctunOy tho smallest on record. In tho Auckland and Otago districts there litis n6t been a single case requiring payment of unemployment sustenance during the past six months. •Vocational training (with sustenance or subsidy) has been arranged for -1G72 men and 1445 have already finished their courses, leaving 3227 sti'.l being trained in special sot.oier classes and technical schools or in the workshops and factories of private employers. In addition to this, fees and text-books have been granted to 989 students who are attending evening, classes at universities or coinmefcial colleges, or who are studying by correspondence with recognised institutions. Officers of the 'After-Care' Branch of tho Department visit the trainees periodically, and reports show that tho latter are, almost without exception, making splendid progress. The latest returns indicate that the number completing training monthly is now in 'excc-ss of the number.commencing, so that henceforth there • will probably be a steady decrease in the mnibcr of trainees, with a consequent decrease in 1 expenditure.-' Up to date <£155,023 has been, expended on training facilities, sustenance, subsidies, etc. "Applications for financial assistance continuo to come in freely, und up to June 20, 38G4 loans for the purpose of acquiring or establishing ; businesses had been approved by the Ministerial Board, involving an expenditure cf .£878,92/. In addition to this, 8403 men have been granted loans for the purchase of household furniture, tools, etc., and a further 29-18 have received financial assistance in other directions, the amount paid to or on bohalf of soldiers under all headings totiii'.ing .£1,222,854. "The amount collected by tho Department up to May 31 in reduction of loans granted was .£105,160, and less than 5 ■ per cent, of the 12,267 men who have beon '' granted loans are in arrear 'villi their * payments. Instalment's amounting to 1 ,£26,477 were col'.ected during the month * of May." ■ ' ■ ' ' > i A summary of assistance rendered is as * follows :-Placed in employment, IS.OjI; ' trained or in' training. SGGI; financially assisted, 15,215. Total,' 38,927.