REPATRIATION.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 January 1919, Page 7

REPATRIATION.

I'JiE GOVIiIiNMIiNT'S INTENTION. Asked his opinion of the Repatriation proposals by tlie Elthani Argus Mr Wilkinson, M.P., said tlie position was, that it was the intention of the Government to establish Repatriation Boards in verious centres in Taranaki, and of course, throughout New Zealand. A board, with a central office, would* be established in New Plymouth, and an official appointed to the control thereof. Though this was the ease, a committee set up in each different district would apparently control affhirs within their own territory without respect to the central board in New Plymouth. Representation on the various committees would be obtained from the ranks of returned soldiers, workers' organisations, farmers' unions, and various ether badic-s. That, said Mr Wilkinson, is briefly what the Government intend to do. 'What do you think of the proposals?" asked the reporter,

"It seem* to me to be a pity to establish a now organisation to 'deal with tho matter.*-' replied Mr Wilkinson. "I think it would be better If the War Relief Association were entrusted with the work, which it. could do equally as well as tho proposed Repatriation Board?, especially as these institutions woiild in many hi.ianees bo dealing with the same cases. It appears to me that tlie propo-'ulst made by the Government ivoul.l entail much duplication of effort." '•I have strongly urged," said Mr Wilkinson, '•that, as far as Taranaki is concerned it would be far better to make use of the War Relief Association find various Patriotic Committees, and if f ort|i<ii ; iV[i!'t<'-eutr,tio!i is dusir;d on War

i'.i'llff Association or committees that could easily be arranged for. I feci sure any request of the kind would immediately he met liy Uie various bodies concerned. The arrangement in regard to the appointment of a permanent official would not, of course, need (o be altered, and lie could supervise the work as, required by the flovernment. ]i Uio Ouycrniiient' schema is gone on with, it U just po-.-db'.e thai many men. now eiliraicd in patriotic work will be called |-:'.on Hj"*i;r've in ft similar capacity on 'ho lin-atviatiun Boards. It might be fnaVr said," lie added, "that the Patriotic Committees and the War Relief have nl.crdv in evisbneo n •rood which has been smoothlv' working for jh« tasi \ ws vearv The nue.stinn of boundaries has le.yid.mt.lv opv'U (?"Ure and i uieaps 'waste." I