REDUCING REPATRIATION BOARDS.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 February 1921, Page 4

REDUCING REPATRIATION BOARDS.

The decision of the Ministerial Repatriation Board to reduce the number of members on the district boards may be taken as an indication that the bulk of the work in connection with repatriation has been accomplished. These district boards have been of immense help both to the Government and the returned soldiers, and have fully justified the wisdom of the Government in bringing them into existence. The experiment was somewhat of a novelty in carrying out an important branch of administrative work that otherwise could not have been satisfactorily performed by officials of the Department, who could not be expected to possess those special qualifications so essential to the success of the object in view. Not only was the advantage of local knowledge an importSnt factor in dealing with applicants, but the capacity to take infinite pains and trouble, as well as the neverfailing sympathy of the members, guided by sound business principles, all helped materially to smooth the paths leading to civil life. The country owes a debt of deep gratitude to these local committees, and the ex-soldiers have good cause for thankfulness that the system was so well administered. The work is by no means finished, but the Minister rightly considers the time has arrived when the expenses may be reduced, and that the patriotic spirit, which has already accomplished so much may be trusted to see the repatriation work completed by honorary members of committees. . His action in this respect will, it may confidently be assumed, be thoroughly understood and endorsed, while there is no reason to fear that the work will suffer thereby.