REPATRIATION.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 August 1921, Page 7

REPATRIATION.

FINDING WORK FOR MEN. S FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. The Repatriation Department’s progress return, as at July 20 (29 months’ operations) says:— Employment.- —The department has placed 24,613 men in employment, and there are at present 382 names on the “employment wanted” register (Auckland 118, 'Wellington 106, Canterbury 82, Otago 76). During the past month unemployment sustenance w-s paid in five cases of hardship. Training.—Vocational training has been arranged for 7133 partially disabled soldiers, apprentices, etc., and of this number 4606 trainees have completed their courses and have been absorbed in various industries, lacving 1164 still undergoing training. An additional 1363 students have been assisted financially , with grants for the payment of fees and the purchase of text books. Train- ; ing figures have shown a steady decrease during the past year, and last month 28 men commenced training, whilst 124 completed their courses and were drafted out to employment. The total expenditure to date on training facilities, sustenace of trainees, etc., is £347,861. This includes a considerable sum for the special tuition in farming pursuits of partially disabled men, and of those desirous of taking up land under the Discharged Soldiers’ Settlement Act. In addition to providing accommodation on the Government experimental farms at Ruakura and Weraroa, the department equipped training farms at Motuihi (Auckland), Tanherenrkau and Penrose (Wellington), Avonhead (Canterbury), and Moa Seed Farm (Otago). A total of between 500 and 600 men have been trained ir. these institutions, but as a i decided falling off in the number of applicants was noticed some six months ago, the training at Motuihi, Penrose, and Weraroa was discontinued, whilst negotiations are at present proceeding with the Department of Agriculture as to the future policy regarding the Avonhead and Moa farms, where, so far as the Repatriation Department is concerned, the work is rapidly drawing to a close. This will leave the department with a training centre at Tauherenikau (where men suffering from tubercular disease are trained) and at Ruakura (wounded men). It is likely that training at Tauherenikau will be in strong demand for a "long time to come, but we anticipate being able to clo’Se down at Ruakura within ■ welve months. Financial Assistance.—Loans to assist discharged soldiers to establish themselves in businesses or professions have been granted in, 5790 caaes at an expenditure of £1,069,378. A further 12,527 men have received advance® totalling £590,520 for the purchase of household, furniture or tools of trade, and 3773 others have been granted financial assistance in other directions, the amount paid to Or on behalf of soldiers under all headings being £2,019.888. Repayments.—Out of C 1.655.898 advanced by way of leans, the amount collected as at June 30, 1921, in repayment thereof totalled £624,262. Collections for the month of June were £37,084, a ! rate of over £440,000 per annum. SUMMARY OF ASSISTANCE RENDERED.

Nature of Number Assistance. Assisted. Amount. Loans— £ Business 5,790 1.069,378 Furniture, Tools, ete 12,527 590,520 Grants— Training, sustena nee, etc. Transportation 1.133 347.864 2.089 6,758 Unemployment sustenance 1,084 5,368 Placed in Employment 24.613 ‘'T — — Total .... 53,836 £2,019,888