REPATRIATION

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 269, 7 August 1920, Page 7

REPATRIATION

SEVENTEEN MONTHS' OPERATIONS. The progress return concerning the operations of the Repatriation Department for the seventeen months ended July 20, states that the number of names on the register is 78,052, demobilisation cords being distributed as follow:—District, Repatriation Officer, Auckand, 18,020 i District Repatriation Officer, Wellington, 22,513:' District Repatriation Officer. Canterbury, 10,470; District Repatriation Officer, Otago, 8,441; Head Office, 17,608. The report continues:— • During the past month 783 discharged soldiers were placed in employment by the Department,' making th'e total placements to date 18,834. The number awaiting absorption at the data of this report is 155, and of these only four have been on the "employment wanted" register for more than one' week. These four men are being paid unemployment sustenance until offered suitable positions. The position is thereforo eminently satisfactory. Vocational training (with sustenance or subsidy) has been arranged for 4857 men, and 1G74 have already finished their courses, leaving 3183 still being trained in special 6oldier classes, and technical schools or in the workshops and factor ies of private, employers, in addition to this, fees and text books havo been granted to 1014 students who are attending evening classes at universities or commercial colleges, or who are studying by correspondence with recognised institutions. Officers of the "After Care" Branch of. the Department visit the. trainees periodicaTTy, and reports 6how that the latter nre almost without exception ' making splendid progress. During the past month 185 commenced training and 229 trainees completed their courses and secured employment as skilled tradesmen. The total expenditure to date on training facilities, sustenance of trainees, etc., is .£174,018.' Applications for. financial assistance continue to. come in freely, and up to July 20 4039 loans for the purpose of acquiring or establishing businesses had been approved by. the Ministerial Board, involving an expenditure of X 918.364. An additional 8837 men havo been granted loans for the purchase of household furniture, tools, ctc., and a further 8001 havo. received financial assistance in other directions, the amount paid to or on behalf of soldiers under all headings totalling .£1,320,0.11. This amount collected by the Department up to July 30, 1920, in reduction' .of loans granted was ,£200,585, and less than 5 per cent, of the .12,870 men who liavo been granted loans are in' arrcar with their payments. Instalments amounting to .£33,419 were collected during the month of June. A summary of assistance rendered is as follows— Placed in employment 18,834 Trained or in training 5,901 ■Financially assisted 15,877 Total 40,612