H.—3o

2

The first transport visited by officers of the Department was the " Tahiti," at Wellington, on the I'lth September, and since then the following ships have been attended and the names and particulars of all men on board taken down, thus providing the means of complying with the Government's direction that no man should be missed. The following is the list of ships visited by the officers of the Department: —

Local Committees advised of Men returning to their Districts. After the cards comprising the Department's register have been written up they are sorted into the various districts into which the Dominion lias been subdivided, and a confidential schedule is sent to the secretary of the local committee setting out the name, address, present location, and state of health of-every man who'has given his address within the district administered by the committee. This task is really somewhat outside the functions of the Department, but in the course of visits which I paid to Auckland and to the South Island for the purpose of enlisting the sympathy of the various centres in the work of the Department it was represented to me that early information of the character described would be of value to the bodies interesting themselves in the returned soldiers' welfare, and 1 accordingly arranged to have it supplied. Arrangements fob interviewing Men prior to discharge from Military Forces. When this duty has been accomplished the cards are sorted alphabetically and held in abeyance awaiting notice of the men's discharge or resumption of duty. Until the men are discharged they remain exclusively under the control of the military authorities, and it is.not competent for my Department in any way to take them in hand. Arrangements, however, have been made with the Defence authorities for the Information Department to receive early information of an intended discharge—say, seven to fourteen days before it actually takes effect —and they similarly advise us of cases of resumption of duty. As soon as we receive notification of an approaching discharge the card is withdrawn from the " Not ready for action " section, noted with brief .particulars of any action taken as hereinafter described, and filed alphabetically in the " Under action " compartment. We immediately arrange tor the soldier to be interviewed by an officer on behalf of the Department, who reports by means of a special form drawn up for the purpose. The particulars for which the form provides are as follows : — (To be answerer/ in all cases.) 1. Name and address of soldier. Is the man of good character? Are liis surroundings respectable? Is he living with relatives, or with whom? 2. is he in good health, or is he still suffering from disease or wounds? •'!. Is he fit for employment, and, if so, has he obtained employment, and what are his wages? If he has not, does he desire employment, and. if so, what kind of employment does he wish for ? 4. What are his means outside his wages? 5. Has lie received assistance from any patriotic society, &c. ? and, if so, give amounts and dates. 6. .Is he receiving full military pay? 7. Have you handed the man one of the " information cards " supplied to you? (To be answered in cases of men at present incapacitated but likely to make a good recovery.) 8. When is he likely to be sound and well and ready for work? 9. Is he desirous of present employment, and, if so, what work could he undertake? 10. What employment is he desirous of obtaining when restored to health?

Date. Ship. Port of Arrival. Sept. II, 1915 Oct. 13, „ „ 27, „ „ 31, „ Dec. 25, „ Jan. I, 1916 • r ), „ ,, 29, „ 31 Feb. 3, „ Mar. 14, ,, „ 16, » ' April 10, „ „ 11, „ „ 21, „ Tahiti .. Maitai Tofua .. Willoohra Tahiti .. Maheno . . Ruahine .. Willochra Tofua Rotorua . . Tahiti Arawa Turakina. . Maheno .. Ulimaroa Wellington. Dunedin. ,, Auckland. Dunedin. Auckland. Dunedin. Wellington. Auckland. 5? Lyttelton.