REPARATION

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 160, 2 April 1921, Page 8

REPARATION

OPERATIONS FOR 25 MONTHS

INTERESTING FIGURES X The progress return of the Repatriation Department, covering the period of 25 months, ended March 29, 1921, states that 79,118 names appear <m the Depiirtiuent's register. Since its inception the Department Jias placed 22,902 discharged soldiers in suitable employment, and the number on the ''employment wanted” register at tho date of tlie report was 150, distributed throughout the various districts, as follows;—Auckland, 60; Wellington, 32; Canterbury, 31; Otago, 27. A'ociit ional training '(with sustenance or subsidy) lias been arranged for 558-1 men, and of these 3902 have finished their courses, leaving a balancetef IGS2 still being trained in special soldier classes and technical schools or in the workshops and factories of private employers. An additional 1274 students who are attending evening classes at universities or commercial colleges, or who are studying by correspondence with recognised instL tutipns, have been assisted with grants towards fees and text ibooks. -Officers of the Department keep in touch witli all the trainees, and the latest reports show that the tatter are making excellent progress. During the month of 'March 124 men eommened training, and 165 trainees completed their courses and secured, employment as “skilled” tradesmen. The total expenditure to date on training facilities, sustenance of trainees, etc. is 41267,334.

The reports of the after-care officers for tho past month show that much success is attending their efforts to place numbers of disabled men in occupations phieh are considered more suitable than those in which they have been engaged. Up to the present after-care, officers have dealt with 1114 chest c.ases, 373 amputees, gnd 667 men suffering from other serious disabilities, and, have in addition during the past month inspected and reported upon subsidised trainees. A steady decrease is apparent, during tho past few months in the number of applications received for financial assistance. Up to March 20 4864 loans for the purpose of acquiring or establishing businesses had been approved by the Ministerial Board, involving an expenditure of ,61,102.922. In addition to this, 11,370 men have been granted loans for the purchase of household furniture, tools, etc., and a further 4187 have received financial assistance in other directions, the amount paid to or on behalf of soldiers under all headings totalling .£1,801,883. Tho amount collected by the Department up to February 28, 1921, on account of loans granted was .£475,351, and grantees arc, in the great majority of cases, meeting their obligations promptly. Instalments amounting io 4134,568 were collected during the month of February. A summary of assistance rendered is as follows.—

At February 28 repayments totalled 41452,328, or 30 per cent, of the amount advanced by way of loan, viz.,

Loans— Number Amount, assisted. r£ Business 5,516 1.010.066 Furniture, tools, etc... . 11,370 505.2S6 Grants- ] Training, sustenance, etc . 6,858 267,335 Transportation. . 2.462 4,922 Unemployment sustenance 1,0/3 Placed in employment 22,902 5,274 -- Total 50,181 £1,801,883