FOR THE SOLDIERS

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 70, 15 December 1921, Page 3

FOR THE SOLDIERS

WORK OF REPATRIATION DIRECTOR’S ANNUAL REPORT A report of the Director of Repatriation upon the operations of hie Department up to August 20, 1921, has been presented to Parliament. Tho report states': — “Tho Department has rendered financial assistance to 29,666 men, at a cost of .£2,051,483. The following table gives details of the expenditure under the various categories:—

“The figures given show that 82 per cent, of tho amount expended has been advanced to soldiers by way of loan, the bulk of the remainder being expenditure upon training facilities, sustenance of trainees, etc. With the decline in applications for financial assistance there has been a corresponding decrease in expenditure, and whereas payments to soldiers twelve months ago ran to dlloo,ooo a month, the expenditure for August, 1921, amounted to only ,£32,060. "Training and tuition have been arranged for 7193 men under the various schemes, and there are 1131 still in training. “The success attained has been most marked, as will be gathered from the fact that. 91.14 per cent, of the trainees who have finished training completed their courses satisfactorily, and were absorbed by t'he- industry,, or calling in which they were trained. Some 5 per cent, of the men were unfortunately compelled to give up, mainly on account of ill-health, whilst less than 4 per cent, had their training cancelled owing to misconduct.

“Twenty-four men who lost their sight at the war have returned to New Zealand. They have all had valuable training at St. Dustan’s in England, and it is pleasing to report that they are comfortably settled in the Dominion, and, notwithstanding their grave disability, appear to be most cheerful and contented.

"Tuberculosis is probably the most serious of all the disabilities that come under the notice of the Department. This was early recognised, and a sound policy was adopted. During the past year tlie Department's special tuberculosis officer has conducted a thorough inspection throughout New Zealand, interviewing men who have any chest trouble, such m pleurisy, pneumonia, asthma, bronchitis, or tuberculosis. Already some 1765 cases have been interviewed, and of this number 1009 were medically examined, 55 were sent into the sanatorium for the necessary treatment. 54 into hospital, and 375 made out-patients ot hospital, and 29 were transferred from t'hcir present surroundings, either on account of climatic conditions or their present occupations being unsuitable, whilst 793 houses were inspected to see whether the living conditions were satisfactory. In addition to the training available to these men at Tauherenikau in poultry-raising, beekeeping, and marketgardening, efforts have been made to train a number in some suitable light outdoor work. including bootmaking, outside plumbing, motor-driving, carpentering, and painting. Our officers are in the closest touch with the Defence Department (which arranges the best of treatment, provision of shelters, etc.), the Pensions Department (which attends to the regular payment of the pensions due), and the Lands Department (which gives special attention to the settling of tubercular men on the land). “About 966 soldiers returned to New Zealand suffering from amputation of limbs, and the Department spared no efforts in their repatriation. Suitable training and employment was arranged for all who on account of their disabilities could not resume their pre-war occupation, and it is gratifying to report that most of these maimed men are now settled. “Up to August 26, 1921, a total of 5842 business loa.ns have been granted, entailing an expenditure of approximately £1,180,000. Furniture loans numbering 11;756 and amounting to £583,722, have been granted. Advances for purchase of tools of trade have been made to the number of 1034. at.n cost of .£21,872. Very few applications for assisted passages wore received, and only 129 have been granted to date, but 2751 men have been assisted with fares to billets found for them within the Dominion. Applications for financial assistance show a steady decline since last report, having dropped from 900 per month to fewer than 400 per month. I “The Department has adopted a pollicy of firmness with regard to repayments, and requires a strict adherence by the grantor to the terms of his agreement. A debtor who is honestly doing his best in the face of adverse circumstances, receives a sympathetic hearing and is, if possible, assisted by the Department to pull through, but the wilful defaulter is given no latitude. "The. last arrears return prepared show's that 85 per cent, of tho 17,223 men who had then received loans were up to date with their payments, and that £9l Bs. Gd. had been collected for each £lOO accrued due. The total collection up to August 31, 1921, amounted to £706,255 (42 per cent, of the total loan advances) and the monthly payments at present exceed £41,000 —a rate of £aoo,ooo per annum. "The great majority of the men are doing well and are loyally meeting their obligations. Many instances could be cited of successful business ventures of assisted soldiers, but it will no doubt suffice to quote the number who have entirely repaid the loans advanced. Up to the" end of July, 1921, some 913 businesses. 764 furniture, and 481 tools-of-trade loans had been repaid in full, and numbers of others are nearing the final instalment. The losses sustained through the default of grantors arc not large, and the Ministerial Board has only found it necessary to write off deficits in exactly 109 cases—the average loss being j;57 An analysis shows that misfortune was' the cause of failure in thirty-two cases, whilst the other sixty-eight men proved to bo unsatisfactory and have only themselves to blame for their failure and wasted opportunity. “Tho administration expenses of the Department from its • inception to the end of August, 1921, total £132,825, or 6 pbr oont. of the gross expenditure. Many economies have been effected during tho past twelve months—boards and committees have been placed upon a purely honorary basis, staffs and rentals haie been reduced, etc. "As tho work decreases it has been the policy of the Department to close the smaller provincial offices and arrange for the walk to bo performed by a secretary (with an honorarium), who provides his own office accommodation, staff, etc. This policy is being gradually extended tlio -operations of tho Department continue to decrease, and a considerable saving is thus boir« effected.

Number Amount. Lop-ns— of cases. Business 5,842 1,079,253 I'urniture 11,758 583,722 Tools, etc Grants— 1,034 21,872 Training fees, sustenunce, etc. ... 7,193 354,269 Unemployment susten5,390 anco 1.090 Transportation 2,751 6,977 Totals 29,866 2,051,483