REPATRIATION.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 October 1920, Page 5

REPATRIATION.

! OVER £22,000,000 SPENT, • MEN ASSISTED TOTAL 59,429. (By Wire.—Parliamentary Reporter.); Wellington, Last Night. Iu the course of his speech on the Loan Bill in the House this afternoon, Mr. "Massey quoted freely from the tables compiled by the departments for the purpose of demonstrating the extent and value of the work done by the Government in connection with the repatriation and settlement of soldiers,, which, he claimed, constituted a handsome record. These figi"'es, compiled to September 30, showed that Loan Authorities under the Discharged Soldiers' Settlement, Act amounted to £15,000,000; advances repaid, £500,000; advances authorised, £16,040,200; amount over committed, £540,000. The particulars of authorisatioas are: Improvements and stock, £2,552,107; purchase of private and native lands, £G,190,317; purchase of Crown leaseholds, £1,537,913; discharge of mortgages, £479,742; purchaes and erection of dwellings, £5,280,081. The capital value of 253 estates comprising 334,093 acres offered to soldiers was £4,017,332, and the cost of 42 estates comprising 153,180 acres now being'subdivided was £1,235,962. Assistance in the purchase of businesses, etc., absorbed £1,472,512. The grand total in £22,766,00G, which does not include the cost of administration. The, total number of men repatriated is 59,428. Of these 15,818 were put on land aggregating 2,4ft6,(J71 acre 9, and 43,010 were otherwise assisted. The area of land available or being prepared for settlement was 780,880 acres, included in which are 42 purchased estates, comprising 153,180 acres, which provide about 379 sections. Arrangements have ! been made to offer this month 1,723 acres of Crown land asd 7,295 acres of settlement land. The total number of properties purchased under the Lands for Settlement Act for returned soldiers is 295, comprising 457,273 acres, and giving approximately 2,000 holdings.