REPATRIATION WORK ENDED.

Otaki Mail, 16 February 1923, Page 4

REPATRIATION WORK ENDED.

SUMMARY OF OPERATIONS. The cessation ol benefits under the Repatriation Act took effect from December 31 last, and up to that date the Department had rendered assistance to 63,108 discharged soldiers at a total cost of £2,329,993. A return received by Horowlienua Repatriation Committee shows that the number of soldiers assisted with business loans was 6366, the amount advanced being £1,160,536. Loans for furniture, tools, etc., numbered 15,915, and amounted to £758,626. A total of 7538 grants were made for training, sustenance, etc., involving £397,619, transportation grants 3498, and the amount £7634; unemployment sustenance grants 1123 for the sum of £5577. Returned men numbering 28,668 were placed in employment. In the training department, partially disabled soldiers, apprentices, etc., numbering 7538, have been trained in new trades or occupations at a cost of £397,619. No less than 7478 trainees have completed their courses and 9.1 per cent of these have graduated into employment. The majority of the 9 per cent who discontinued before graduating did so on account of ill-health, the percentage of unsatisfactory cases being negligible. There are now only 60 men in training, and most of these .will complete during the 'next few months. The. average cost per trainee (taking credit successes only) is £55. Altogether, New Zealand’s record in connection with training in relation to the individual cost, the proportion of successes to failures, and the libera-

lity of income, during the training period, is a good one. The department coKtrolling the business and furniture loans granted 6366 loans to discharged soldiers to establish business a.t- a cost, of £1,160,536, and an additional 15,915 men have received advances amounting to £758,626 for the purchase of furniture to set up homes. The repayment of loans is remarkably good, and the Department 'has already collected £1,190,748—0ver 60 per cent of the total loan advances. Business roans, ] 1980, and 3052 furniture loans have been entirely repaid.