WORK OF REPATRIATION

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 59, 3 December 1920, Page 7

WORK OF REPATRIATION

ASSISTANCE GIVEN TO 46.000 MEN.

A m-neress return issued by .tho Eenatriatiou Berarlment,' covering its oneraUousto November 20. shows that thero are at present 76,689 names on the do- ■■ <-th or rtiiiraiM leaving a balance of 239 a still betrail el i special soldier classes and teclm cK schools or in. the workshops and factories of private employers. An additfonal 1203 students who are attending evening classes at universities or commer- ; ri-il colleges, or who arc studying, by. correipondcuee with recognised ifstitutions, have been assisted with eranW towards fees and text books. Officers of tho De- ' nartiueut keep in touch with all tho trainees, and the latest reports show that tho latter are waking exce lent progress. This section of the Tlepartnient s operations is'beginning to show » rapid decfcuso month by month, and during November 76 men commenced training and ; 5«6 trainees completed their course,> and secured employment as "skilled tradesmen Tho total expenditure to date on training facilities, sustenance of 'trainees, ° Tho'repOTta of the after-care officers for the nast month, it is stated, havo been exceedingly satisfactory, and go to show the success that is attend tog their, effort to plaoe numbers of disabled men in occupations which are considered more smtable than those in which they have been engaged. Up to the present, after-care ofOmm have dealt with 874 chest cases, 537 amputees, and sSßmon suffering . from offier serious disaWrtnes, and have in addition, during the past month, .inspected and reported upon am subsidised trainees throughout the Doihinion., . . A steady decrease i» apparent during the past few months in tho number of applications received for financial assistance, and a substantial decrease of expenditure in this direotion is confidently anticipated. Up to November 20, 4WS loans for the purpose of acquiring or establishing businesses had beon approved by the Ministerial Board, involving' an expenditure of £1,042,766. In addition to this 10,066 men have been granted loans for the purchase of household furniture, tools, etc., and a further 3896 havo received financial assistance in other directions, tho amount paid to or on behalf of soldiers under all headings totalling £1,604,154. The Department has advanced loans to 15,234 discharged soldiers, and it ii regarded as most satisfactory to be able to report that less than 5 nor cent, of the grantors are in arrear with their repay- - meats. Whon it is stated that in many caseß the delay in paymont is attrlbut-' ablo to ill-health from recurring war disabilities, it will readily be seen that tho proportion of wilful defaulters i 6 very small indeed. The amount collected by tho Department up to October 31. 1920. ni\ account of loans granted totalled £340,667 and the collection for tho month of Ootobcr amounted to £35,284, a rate of over £420,000 per annum. 1 The following is a summary of tho assistance rendered:—Placed in employment, 21,250j trained or in training. 6465; (limncially assisted. 18,668: total. 46.303.