REPATRIATION.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 June 1920, Page 5

REPATRIATION.

PROGRESS RETURN. There are at the present time 77,660 names on the Register of the Repatriation Department. . EMPLOYMENT. No great difficulty ia being experienced in securing employment for discharged soldiers, and applicants are usually placed in suitable positions within ft few day 3of registration; Up to the 20th May 17,327 men have'been placed by l.He Department, and there were on that date 167 awaiting employment. As six of the latter had been on the "employment wanted" register for a week or more they ivere being paid sustenance allowances. TRAINING. Vocational training (with sustenance or subsidy) has been arranged for 4405 men aril 1229 have already finished their courses, leaving 3266 still being 'trained in special soldier classes and technical schools or in the workshops and factories of private employers. In addition to this, fees and text-books have been granted by 932 students who are attending evening classes at universities or commercial colleges, or who are studying by correspondence with recognised institutions. Officers of the "After-care" branch of the department visit the trainees periodically, and reports show that the latter are, almost without exception, making splendid progress.® Hitherto the number iq training has increased month by month, but the latest figures indicate that we have now reached a point where the number completing training is in excess of the number commencing, so that henceforth there will probably be a steady decrease in the number of trainees, with a consequent decrease in expenditure. Up to date, £138,711 has been expended on training facilities, sustenance, subsidies, etc.

FINANCIAL A9PSTANCE. Applications for financial assistance continue to come in freely, and up to the 20th May 3C75 loans for the purpose of acquiring or establishing businesses had been by the Ministerial Board, involving an expenditure of £836,380. In addition to this, 7701 men have been granted loans for the purchase of household furniture, tools, etc., and a further 2617 have received financial assistance in other directions, the totjil amount paid to or on behalf of soldiers under all headings totalling £1,134,055. REPAYMENTS. The amount collected by the Department up to 30/4/20 in reduction of loans granted was £138,703, and less than 5 per cent of the 11,438 men who have been granted loans are in arrear with tli.eir payments. Instalments amounting to £21,616 were collected during the month of April. SUMMARY OP ASSISTANCE RENDERED. Placed in employment .... 17,327 Trained or in training 5,427 Financially assisted 14,253 Total 37 > 00 ?