Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star WEDNESDAY SEPT. 24th, 1919. REPATRIATION REPORT.

Hokitika Guardian, 24 September 1919, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star WEDNESDAY SEPT. 24th, 1919. REPATRIATION REPORT.

The first report of the Repatriation Department has been circulated, and it is a very satisfactory, document. It discloses that while the Government made a late beginning with the task > the organisation created has been successful in overtaking its purpose, and in a very short period of time has made good. The report just present to parliament deals with repatriation operations up to August 20 last. At that date 66,000 .more than three-quarters of the total number to be repatriated—had been returned to the Dominion,. and the total number of men in all parts of the country drawing unemployment sustenance was only seventeen. Taking account of all that it implies in the way of helpful effort and smooth-working organisation this is a record to be proud of, and one that reflects a great deal of credit on the Repatriation Department and organisations, and on the Ministers who have exercised general supervision. With excusable pride the Director of Repatriation (Mr Samson) sets in contrast to the New Zealand record of 17 men on unemployment sustenance out of more than 66,000 returned the experience of Australia and that of Great Britain. The Commonwealth Repatriation Minister is quoted as stating that up to the end of February last, out of 114,000 soldiers returned to Australia > 5000 were receiving sustenance while awaiting employment. Britain, it is noted, paid £14,000,000 in unemployment sustenance during the five months following the armistice. Tho fact is fairly emphasised in the report on repatriation that the task of organising assistance has been much lightened by the admirablo sipirit of self-reliance generally shown by the soldiers of the Dominion. Of those who had returned up to last month, 75 per cent did not ask for assistance, which is taken to menu that they returned to their pre-war billets, ~r found no difficulty in obtaining such work as they desired. As tho report points out. this stato of affairs implies not. only that soldiers are showing a self-reliant spirit, but that “tho embo carried tho Government is to appoint ployers of the Dominion have risen to the occasion, are taking back their old employees (many of whom have been drawing half-pay while on active service), and in additioii to this are many cases making room for others.” While its labours have been lightened

to this extent, the Department and its subsidiary organisations have done an immense amount of useful work in, rendering assistance in one form or another to some 25 per cent of the | soldiers who have been returning in recent times at the rate of 6000 a'■ month. As regards a largo proportion | of these men assistance is required chiefly in finding suitable employment, but the provision made for those who 1 need more extended help is comprehensive and varied, and is still being amplified in some directions. Particularly good work is being done in oon- | inaction with the training schemes j under which the Repatriation Departi ment supports or cbntributes to the I soldiers and the widows of soldiers while they are undergoing vocational training. In this Ivay the Government 1 is adequately meeting the case of parti- ! ally disabled men, of those who had ; not acquired a trade or calling when I they enlisted, of aoprentices whose in- ] dentures were interrupted by war ser- ! vice, and of others who have special claims to consideration and special needs to be "met. It is satisfactory to note that the scheme of training in factories and workshops which has developed on a considerable scale has been greatly facilitated by, the cooperation of trade unions. In all training has been arranged to date under the various scheme for 1927 men, of whom 1615 are still in training. More 1 than a. thousand of those in the latter category are established in factories and workshops, their earnings being made up by the State to £3 per week. Free use is being made also of tlic technical schools, and a fair number of men have been and are being trained on State farms and at special farms of instruction. There ought to bo room still for a considerable extension of this branch of repatriation. As regards the total scope of the enterprise, it is to be noted that while nearly 2000 men have -received or are receiving vocational training 1178 have received loans not exceeding £3OO as an aid towards establishing or purchasing businesses and 2400 have been granted smaller loans for the purchase of furniture, tools of trade etc. The latter loans are free of interest. When it is remembered that' under the administration of the •’Lands Department more than 2000 soldiers had, at the end of July been established on farms and many others had been given financial assistance as settlers, while over 1500 had been granted loans to purchase houses, substantial support is given to a contention that New Zealand is dealing with its fighting men in no niggardly spirit.