REPATRIATION OF SOLDIERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 May 1919, Page 6

REPATRIATION OF SOLDIERS.

DIRECTOR'S REPORT Mr J. R. Samson, Director of Repatriation, furnishes the progress return as follows:—The number of returned soldiers on the Department's register now totals 4-2,012, This includes 10,247 men who have returned to the Dominion Bince the beginning of the year. Demobilisation cards are now held by the district repatriation officers as follows: Auckland 5513, Wellinbtin 0446, Canterbury 2587, Otago 2748; total 17,594. These figures include cards for some 1300 men who returned prior to 1919 and have applied for assistance from the Department. Already 239 loans, totalling £51,500 to assist discharged soldiers to start in business have been approved by the Ministerial Board, and that during the past month approximately £20,000 was actually paid on behalf of soldiers in the way of furniture, tools, business, sustenance, training fees, subsidised wages, assistance to apprentices, etc. The Wellington office found the most billets for soldiers, and the Christchurch office has paid the largest amount of sustenance grants. The returns show that fewer men are receiving training in new trades in Canterbury than elsewhere, but it is expected that the next progress return will show a big increase in the Canterbury figures, as also in the Otago figures. The total number now being trained by the Department is 336. Of the men returned by recent transports a large proportion indicated that they had their old billots to return to. Of the remainder a number, being fit and well, readily found employment for themselves and the De. partment during the month secured billets for 465 men who applied for such assistance. A further 240 men sought financial assistance during the month to enable them to start in busiuess and ■262 applied for grants for furniture and tools of trade, etc.