H—lB

(iv) Furniture 1. Loans granted for the purchase of household furniture totalled 6,755 for the year, involving £620,080. The comparative figures for the year ended 31st March, 1945, were 3,566 loans, totalling £327,865. 2. In order that all furniture on which the Rehabilitation Board lends money should comply with a reasonable standard of manufacture, the Board, in consultation with the Standards Institute and furniture-manufacturers, sponsored a standard specification governing the class of materials to be used and details of manufacture. Furnituremanufacturers in general have undertaken to use the standard specification, and for this purpose have registered with the Standards Institute, and articles of furniture manufactured by such firms will have affixed a standard mark which will include the manufacturer's registered number. 3. By this arrangement furniture conforming to specified standards of material and workmanship is being made available to ex-servicemen at reasonable prices. SECTION XIII.—MAORI REHABILITATION (i) Administration With special measures introduced during the year for the handling of loan applications by Maori ex-servicemen, which ordinarily could not expeditiously be handled through the standard methods of procedure prescribed for ex-servicemen generally, increased activity has clearly indicated a greater degree of appreciation and confidence in the handling of Maori cases.

(ii) Progress of Demobilization Demobilization of Maori ex-servicemen is as under :

(iii) Employment and Trade Training 1. Inclusive of those attending the Maori training centres at Rotorua and Kaikohe and those undergoing training in various other centres", a total of 121 Maori ex-servicemen are undergoing " A " Class carpentry training. 2. During the year placement of Maori ex-servicemen in the employment field has presented little difficulty, but with greater numbers now demobilized the position will tend to become more difficult owing to the shortage of agricultural and other work in localities adjacent to centres of Maori settlement, more especially in the cases of married ex-servicemen who have no wish to be further separated from their families. (iv) Farm Training and Settlement 1. The importance of a vigorous policy of land-settlement in Maori rehabilitation is fully recognized, and every endeavour is being made to acquire and develop suitable properties. To date 4,399 acres have been acquired exclusively for the settlement of Maori ex-servicemen, while at the moment negotiations for the acquisition of additional properties are under consideration. 2. The settlement of Maori ex-servicemen who are sole owners of properties presents little difficulty, while when an ex-serviceman or ex-servicemen take over property at the wish of his or their family the Native Department and officers of that Department

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Total to— Ex-overseas. Ex Home Service. Total. 31st March, 1943 31st March, 1944 31st March, 1945 31st March, 1946 291 765 1,333 2,942 310 509 674 1,048 601 1,274 2,007 3,990