The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 10, 1920. REPATRIATION WORK.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 March 1920, Page 4

The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 10, 1920. REPATRIATION WORK.

The first year's work of the Hepatization Department can only be viewed with the greatest satisfaction. The problem of returning our soldiers to civil life, helping them with financial means to enter into business, and fitting them for new vocations whereby they can earn a comfortable living, is surrounded with circumstances needing the most careful and sympathetic treatment in order to safeguard the best interests of the men. Only those who are in close touch with the work of repatriation can realise the infinite care and pains that have been exercised by the officers and members of committees and boards in dealing with the 77,128 eases on the register. The bare results afford some indication of the work accomplished, whereby the public can ascertain the salient features of the Department's operations, and it can confidently be asserted that, the record is one that not only fully justifies the institution of the board, but also testifies to the exemplary manner in which it is carrying out one of the most important and onerous duties that has ever been undertaken in New Zealand. It shows, moreover, that the pledge given by the Government is being honored not only in the letter, but in the full spirit in which it was given. To find suitable employment for over 15,000 men was no light task, yet it has been achieved, and the number awaiting engagement at the end of last month was only 175, while those drawing unemployment sustenance only numbered 14. This result implies a very satisfactory attitude on the part of employers, for it can only have been by their sympathetic co-operation that this creditable record could have become possible. It is probable that many will consider the work of training men to become skilled workers is in the forefront of the

I department's activities, and there can be no question that it opens up good prospects for the trainees, as well as supplying an urgent need. That 3838 men should come under this scheme, of whom 3030 are now in training and 808 have finished their course, proves that it was a step in the right direction, especially as seventy-one per cent, of' these men are in private factories and in workshops where they may reasonably expect to find permanent employment when they have finished their course and become proficient. These trainees are not drafted direct into the factories and workshops, but are given three or four months' grounding .in a special techincal class, if necessary, and then put to the practical work. The scheme is working so well that about one hundred men per month are taking their places in the ordinary industrial life of the community, and helping to fill the gaps made during the war. Naturally a large proportion of the returned men desire to enter into business and to make homes for themselves and their families. In this sphere of the department's work a heavy expenditure is involved by way of loans. The extent of this expenditure can be gleaned, frgra the fact that the total amount advanced to soldiers by the department up to, February 20th was £880,399. Of this sum £666,487 was in the form of loans exceeding £SO to enable men to enter into business, the number of men so helped being 2926, while 5957 received in the aggregate £200,600 for furniture. Out of a total of 12,708 applications for financial assistance 83 per cent, were granted, and only nine per cent, declined. No more striking testimony can be found of the good faith which characterises these transactions, especially when it is considered that less than four per cent, of those who have received loans are in arrear with their repayments, and that £72,542 has already been paid back by the borrowers. On the whole, it is quite clear that the department is being administered on the right lines, and is doing beneficial work. Whatever doubts may have been entertained when it was first instituted have now been set at rest, and the members of the Board are worthy of hearty congratulations on the result of their efforts, while the returned soldiers have proved that their loyalty under arms is equally in evidence on their resuming civil life. The public have every reason for satisfaction with the policy of the Repatriation Department, as well as with that of the War Relief Association, which supplements the assistance given by the Government in cases of the incapacitated men, for whom all that is possible is being done.