REPATRIATION.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 October 1920, Page 7

REPATRIATION.

1 PROGRESS RETURN. j There aro at the present lime 78,tf50 names on the register of tho Repatriation Department. Employment,—Since its inception, the Department has placed 20,018 discharged soldiers in suitable employment, and the number on the "employment wanted" register at the date of this report (Sept. 20th, 1920) is 183. The majority of these have registered for employment within the last few days, and it should be noted that at the present time not a single discharged soldier is drawing employment sustenance allowance, i.e., has not been on tho books of the Department for more than one week. The total amount paid out to date as employment sustenance is £s2o3—an average expenditure of Is 3d per demobilised soldier.

Training.—Vocational training (with sustenance or subsidy) has been arranged for 5089 men, and of these 2126 have finished their courses, leaving a Balance of 2963 still trained in special soldier classes and technical schools or in the workshops and factories of private employers. An additional 1145 students who are attending evening classes at Universities or commercial colleges) or who are studying by correspondence with recognised institutions', have been assisted with grants towards fees and textbooks. Officers of the Department keep in touch with all the trainees, and the ■latest reports show that the-latter are making excellent progress. This section I of the Department's operations is showing a slight decrease month by month, and during September 104" men commenced training and 194 trainees completed their courses and secured employment as "skilled" tradesmen. The total expenditure to-date on training facilities, sustenance of trainees, etc., is £200,4167. After-Care.—After-care officers are doing good work by getting into personal touch, with numbers of seriously disabled men in an endeavor to further assist them by arranging any necessary medical treatment, reconsideration of pension, placing in more suitable employment, arranging training, etc., and up to date the branch has dealt with the cases of 748 tubercular men, 238 amputees, and 245 men suffering from other serious disabilities. During the past month after-care officers have also inspected 151 ex-soldiers whom the Department is training in various trades, and has supervised the trainees' wages and general conditions.

Financial Assistance.—A steady de- | crease is apparent during the past few months in the number of applications received for financial assistance, and a substantial decrease of expenditure in this direction is confidently anticipated. Up to the 20th September, 4375 loa>i9 for rhe purpose of acquiring or establishing businesses has been approved by the Ministerial Board, involving an expenditure of £!)!)2,44(l. In addition 'o this, 9248 men have been granted loans for the p-'rehase of household furniture, tools, etc., and a further 3735 have received financial assistance in other directions, the amount paid to or on behalf of soldiers under all headings totalling £1,472,512. Repayments.—The amount collected by the Department up to 31st Septem- ■ her, 1920, on account of loans granted wns £274,002. Grantors are in the great majority of cases meeting their obligations with loyalty and promptitude, and less than 5 per cent of the 14,130 men who have been granted loans are in areas with their payments. Instalments amounting to £33,813 were collected during the month of August, a rate of over £400,000 per annum. Summary of Assistance Rendered- — Placed in employment, 20,018: trained or I in training. 6234: fmanciallv assisted, 17,358.—T0ta1, 43.G10.