A RECORD OF SUCCESS

Hokitika Guardian, 7 April 1921, Page 1

A RECORD OF SUCCESS

REPARATION D EPABTMEXT

Some instructive figures regarding Die operations of the Repatriation Depirtment are given by Mr J. E. Sampson, the Director, in Mil's report for the month ended March 20th. •iXim-o its inception,' states Mr Sampson, "the Department has placid 22.002 discharged soldiers in suitable employment, and the number on the Unemployment Wanted Register at the date of this report is 150. distributed throughout the various districts as follows: Auckland 00, Wellington 32. Canterbury 31, Otago 27. Vocational training (with sustenance or subsidy) has been' arranged for 558! men. and of these 390?, have finished their courses, leaving a balance of It 82 still being trained in special ■■oldier classes and teehnical schools or in the workshops and factories of private i inplovers. An additional 1271 students who are attending evening classes at universities or commercial colleges, or who are studying by correspondence with recognised institutions, hare ne"i assisted with grants towards fees and text books. Officers of '.he Department keep in touch with all the trainees, ami the latest reports show that the laiter arc making excellent progress. Duri'ig the month of March 124 men commenced training, and 165 trainees completed their courses and secured employment as “skilled’’ tradesmen. ' lie total expenditure to date on training facilities, sustenance of trainees, etc., is £207.334.

The reports of the After-Care officers for the past month shows that inii<di success is attending their efforts to place numbers of disabled men in occupations which are considered more suitable than those in which they have been engaged. Up to the present. After-Care Officers have dealt with 1114 chest eases 373 amputees, and 6(>7 men suffering from oilier serious disabilities, and have in addition during the past month inspected and reported upon subsidised t ra hires.

A steady decrease is apparent during llm past few months in the number of applications received for financial assistance. Up to March 20th. 4804 loans for the puropuse of acquiring or establishinii businesses had been approved by the Ministerial Board involving an expenditure of £1.102. 922. In addition to tlijs, 11.370 men have been granted loans for the purchase of household furniture. (cols, 'Li'., and a further 4187 lia.vfe rG cive t financial assistance in other directions, the amount paid to or on behalf of soldiers under all headings t. tailing Cf .801,883.

The amount collected by the DcpaClmmC up to February 28th.. 1921. on account of loans granted was £I < 5,851 and grinders are. in the great majority of eases, meeting their obligations promptly. Instalments amount to £31,508 were- collected during he month of February. At February 28th. repayments totalled £4.52.328. c<r 30 per cent of the amount advanced by wnv of loan, £1.524,352.