REPATRIATION

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 169, 13 April 1921, Page 7

REPATRIATION

A PROGRESS REPORT. There are nt the present, time 73,118 •names on the register of the depatriation Department. Since its inception the De- ' partmcnt has placed 22,302 discharged soldiers in suitable employment, and the number on the “Employment Wanted Register is 150, distributed throughout the various districts as follows: —Auckland GO. Wellington 32, Canterbury 31, Otago 27. Vocational training (with sustenance or subsidy) has been arranged for 5584 men, and of these 8002 have finished their Courses, leaving a balance of 1682 still being trained in special soldier classes and technical schools or in the workshops and factories of private employers. An additional 1274 students who an- attending evening classes at universities or commercial colleges, or who t T o studying by correspondence with recognised institutions, have been .assisted with grants towards fees and text hooks. Officers of the Department keep in touch with all the trainees, and the latest reports show that the latter are making excellent progress. During the month of March 124 men commenced training and 165 trainees completed their courses and secured ertiployment as "skilled’’ tradesmen. The total expenditure to date on training facilities, sustenance of trainees, etc., has been .£267,334. The reports of the after-care officers for the past month show that much success is attending their efforts to piece numbers of disabled men In occupations which are considered more suitable than those in which they have Been engaged. Upto the- present, after-care officers have dealt with 1114 chest cases, 373 amputees, and 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 fho past, few months in the number of applications received for financial assistance. Up to March 20, 4864 loons for tiie purpose of acquiring r.r establishing businesses hod been approved by the Min isterial Board, involving an expenditure of £1.102,922. In addition !.. this, 11,370 mem have been granted 'cans for the purchase of household furniture, tools, etc., nnd 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.