REPATRIATION SCHEME

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10608, 5 June 1920, Page 2

REPATRIATION SCHEME

"A GREAT SUCCESS." OPINION OF RETURNED MEN. Returned soldiers in conference assembled have placed on record their appreciation "of the great success of the work of repatriation and the excellent work of repatriation boards •and committeoß throughout the Dominion."

In supporting the resolution, Mr C. VV. Batten (Wellington)- gave some : decidedly interesting figures. He said [that out of 14,901 applications for as- [ sistanco up to March last only 1372 ' had been refused, thus showing that 90 per cent, were approved. Out of £928,000 evolved, £117,000 had been •repaid already, and only 6 per cent, of the men were in arrears with payments-. It was due to him to say I that, although he was connected with it, the Repatriation Department had been a triumph for the Dominion. It proved two things: (1) TJiat the initial policy of the Returned Soldiers' Association in encouraging its own members to take a hand in the work had been a. correct one—virtually all the staffs engaged at the repatriation offices were returned men. (2) That the action of the Government in constantly appealing to the people of the Dominion to assist returned men in securing employment had also been •the ritrht course to'pursue. The Returned Soldiers' Association had had an incalculable effect on the whole repatriation policv of the Government, hnt a great deal of the success achieved has been due to the remarkable readiness of the men themseUes to settle down and become adaptable to circumstances.