REPATRIATION REPORT

Hokitika Guardian, 10 November 1920, Page 3

REPATRIATION REPORT

The latest progress report of the Repatriation Department is highly creditable alike to the Department and to the men it lias assisted. Up to October 20 the Department had placed 20,623 men in employment and had paid out £5233 in unemployment sustenance. At the date mentioned it had only 128 men on its employment books and only four drawing unemployment sustenance. Vocation training had been arranged for 5206 men, of whom 2321 had finished their courses. This branch of iiork had cost £214,919 to date, and the number of persons coming forward was now showing a decrease each month. In October 117 men commenced training and 195 completed their courses and secured employment as skilled tradesmen. It is in the matter of financial assistance that the report shows the most encouraging results. The Department has granted 17,924 loflfns to 14,731 individuals, aggregating £1,539,431. The sum of £305,383 has been received in respect of these loans, £14,891 in interest and £290,492 in principal, and less than 5 per cent of the borrowers are in arrears with their payments. Instalments are now coming in at the i ate of £450,000 per annum. During the period September 20 to October 20, 968 applications for assistance were received and 658 were granted, which makes a substantial decrease on earlier returns. The Department appears to he making a great success of the work for which it was established, and to he hastening the day when its services will no longer lie needed. That is quite ait it should he.