H—lB

(ii) Trade Training 92. During the year the number of ex-servicemen undergoing trade-training declined, but the diminution in this field of rehabilitation activity was not unexpected, particularly in view of the fact that the majority of ex-servicemen have resumed pre-service occupations and those trained in a trade placed in civilian employment. 93. A comparison of the trade training figures with those of 31st March, 1949, is as follows :

(iii) Farm Training and Settlement 94. The training scheme has continued to be successful, and with few exceptions the training term has been successfully completed. While there has been a slight decline in the number of men offering to undertake training with private farmers, there is, nevertheless, a number of men still undergoing training on this basis. In a number of cases difficulty is still being experienced in placing married trainees for training with private farmers, due to lack of adequate accommodation on the properties of suitable farmers. 95. To date 557 men have been graded for training and land-settlement. Of this number, 89 have been established with rehabilitation finance, 17 employed by either Lands or Maori Affairs respectively with promise of a section, 204 are awaiting settlement, 84 are under training or awaiting training, and 22 have been settled with own finance. 96. To date ten sections of the Huramua Soldier Settlement have been balloted, and the successful applicants have either taken possession or been placed on wages with promise of a section. It is hoped to ballot three more sections of the Huramua property, as well as one section from the Jessep and Knapps property, shortly. The remaining section of Huramua will continue to be occupied by the farm-manager of the scheme until the development and building operations on the two remaining sections on Jesseps and Knapps, adjacent to Huramua, is completed. It is hoped to have the whole of the three remaining properties individually occupied by ex-servicemen by the 1951 dairy season, and in all the settlement will comprise fourteen dairy and three sheep units. 97. While the development and subdivision work on the properties was being carried out advantage was taken by the Board, through the Department of Maori Affairs, to train Maori ex-servicemen in the various types of the farming industry, in particular dairy and sheep and agriculture. The training scheme proved an unqualified success, but owing to the diminishing area available, brought about by the allotment of sections, no further applications are being accepted for training. 98. During the year a survey was completed by the Department of Maori Affairs of all Crown land held by it, and where the properties concerned were not held for some other specific purpose these have been made available for the settlement of Maori ex-servicemen. The area available is approximately 27,188 acres, including the 8,956 2—H 18

17

31st March, 1949. 31st March, 1950. Under Completed Under Completed Training. or Placed. Training. or Placed. "A' ' Class 218 366 156 484 "B' ' Class 17 26 9 37 "C Class 4 4 1 7 "D' ' Class 13 32 14 36 «'I" ' Class Totals .. .. 1 2 ... 3 253 430 1 180 567