G—lo

There were four houses under construction as at the 31st March, one in the Manawatu district, two in Hastings, and one at Picton. There are four further cases where loans have been granted for housing purposes but where it has not been possible to commence building. Two of these are at Porirua, one at Masterton, and one in Wellington. In the latter instance the applicant is having difficulty in purchasing a section in the city. A -complication is that the applicant, who has a leg injury sustained on service overseas, is operating a shoe-repairing business in a suburb and wishes to have a section near his shop. One section was inspected, but although in a suitable locality it was a poor building-section, and in the serviceman's interest no action was taken. One house was repaired during the year at Feilding for a returned serviceman. As there was no housing gang operating in the district and little chance of having labour available for some time, the work was done by private contract, the completed work being passed by the Building Supervisor. Only one application for a loan for furniture was received during the year, and a loan of £96 approved by the Registrar. There has been no call on rehabilitation funds for the purchase of tools of trade in this district. Every assistance is given to ex-servicemen in all cases coming to the notice of the Department, even where the cases do not normally come within the scope of the Department's activities. Frequently it is difficult to ascertain an ex-serviceman's intentions, and applications may not be proceeded with because an applicant has changed his plans and moved to another district. Where loans are approved for farming, close supervision of the farming activities is maintained by the Field Supervisors and every assistance is given in advising on farming methods, buying and selling of stock, and in any other way that may be required. In all cases a sympathetic attitude is adopted towards ex-servicemen who are suffering from the effects of war injuries, and allowance is made for the fact that they may be handicapped in the attention they can give to their farms and in generally carrying out their obligations in respect of loans granted.

ASSISTANCE GRANTED TO EX-SERVICEMEN TO 31st MARCH, 1946: MAORI REHABILITATION FINANCE COMMITTEE AND BOARD OF NATIVE AFFAIRS *

* Assistance granted by Board of Native Affairs is under Part I, Native Land Amendment Act, 1936, or Native Housing Act, 1935. t Item £32,047 includes cost of equipping Huramua Soldiers' Settlement for reception of rehabilitation farm trainees. Facilities now complete and cost per capita will be reduced as more trainees are put through the courses.

47

Overseas Servicemen. Home Servicemen. Totals. Loans or Advances Year 1945-46. To Date. Year 1945-46. To Date. Year 1945-46. To Date. approved for— No. Amount. No. Amount. No. Amount. No. Amount. No. 1 Amount. No. I Amount. £ £ £ £ £ £ Purchase of farms 12 77,161 12 77,161 12 77,161 12 77,161 Settlement on farms 16 27,198 18 28,434 16 27,198 18 28,434 Expenditure on farms .. 32,047 32,047 32,047 32,047f Purchase of houses *3 1,250 *9 5,010 "3 1,250 *9 5,010 Erection of houses 53 49,122 94 74,002 i '850 '2 1^550 54 49,972 96 75,552 Repairs to houses 1 430 9 2,517 1 430 9 2,517 Additions to houses 1 152 1 376 1 152 1 376 Purchase of tools of trade 6 629 8 714 6 629 8 714 Purchase of furniture .. 41 3,603 53 4,761 i 'ioo 3 '298 42 3,703 56 5,059 Purchase of businesses .. 1 1,300 1 1,300 1 1,300 1 1,300 Miscellaneous 1 350 1 350 i 1^000 i M00 2 1,350 2 1,350 Supplementary loans .. 3 267 .3 267 3 267 3 267 Totals 138 193,509 209 ' 226,939 3 1,950 6 2,848 141 195,459 215 229,787