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107. A comparison of the figures with those of 31st March, 1947, is as follows :

(iv) Farm Training and Settlement 108. The training scheme has continued to be successful and farmers have cooperated in taking trainees for engagements. Difficulty is still being experienced in placing married trainees for training, due to lack of adequate accommodation on the properties of suitable farmers. 109. To date, 110 men undertook training, and of this number, 72 have now completed and obtained their " A " Grade certificate, and have been settled or placed meantime in employment in the industry. 110. For the year, 17 " A " Grade men have been established on single-unit properties with rehabilitation assistance, making to date a total of 96 men settled. Endeavours are still being made to acquire additional properties for those men still awaiting settlement. 111. The need for a vigorous policy of land-settlement is fully recognized. So far as development work on properties already acquired exclusively for the settlement of Maori ex-servicemen is concerned, the rate of progress at present is largely governed by the availability of materials. Although faced with these difficulties, every effort is being maintained to complete the development programmes to ensure early settlement. 112. During the year the acquisition of an additional 2,448 acres in the Rotorua district was finalized, making a total of 4,487 acres acquired in that district to date. With 3,563 acres in the Wairoa district and 906 acres between Matamata and Te Awamutu, to date a total of 8,956 acres has been purchased exclusively for development, subdivision, and eventual settlement of Maori ex-servicemen. Single-unit properties are not included in above total. At the moment several offers of properties from Maori owners for settlement of their ex-servicemen relatives have been received and are under consideration. 113. Where property is offered by Maori owners for settlement of Maori ex-servicemen of a particular tribe or sub-tribe, the facilities provided by section 72 of the Statute Amendment Act, 1945, apply. By these facilities it is hoped that in the future more land will be offered by Maori owners for settlement of ex-servicemen relatives. 114. As remarked upon in the last report, it was hoped to settle 6 " A " Grade men during the year on part of the Hurumua property at Wairoa, but difficulties were experienced in obtaining materials for the houses and milking-sheds on the sections concerned, and also shortage of carpenters, consequently the work and settlement was held up. The construction work has been undertaken by rehabilitation trade trainees and is now well advanced. Every endeavour is being made to complete this work so that settlement of the six sections can be effected by the beginning of the coming season, and a further number of the men placed on the remaining sections as soon as materials for the balance of houses and milking-sheds are available.

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31st March, 1947. 31st March, 1948. Increase Under Training. Completed or placed. Under Training. Completed or placed. for Year. "A' Class .. 255 127 281 218 117 "B' ' Class .. 23 3 21 16 11 "C" ' Class 5 1 3 5 2 "D' ' Class .. 33 11 27 40 23 " F ,! ' Class 1 Totals .. .. 316 143 332 280 153