8.—6

XI

been made, but it was considered advisable to reinvest a large portion of the proceeds either in the direction of further improving soldiers' properties or acquiring more suitable stock. Out of the receipts from the sales of farmproduce, &c, approximately £275,000 was readvanced. With a view to adjusting, if possible, the position of soldier settlers who suffered from the economic depression, Inquiry Boards have been set up for each land district. Their reports are now coming to hand, and as a result legislation will be submitted during the present session to give effect, as Jar as possible to the recommendations made by the Boards. The most critical period appears to have passed. The crisis, however, disclosed those men who would never, under any circumstances, have become successful, and their replacement by more suitable and more experienced men is taking place. During the year loans amounting to £868,650 were authorized to 915 soldiers, of which £425,125 were granted to 532 soldiers for the erection of dwellings, the balance being principally in the direction of advances on current account to aid in improving and stocking lands that have been purchased privately, or in respect of vacant Crown and settlement lands that have been selected : these represent new transactions. In addition to the sums authorized as above— namely, £21,278,221 — he amount of £3,058,050 has been borrowed for the purchase of lands for the Discharged Soldiers Branch of the Land for Settlements Account, and rents, recoveries, &c, amounting to £44,379 were accounted for last year. There are also other lands acquired in the Land for Settlements Account which have been proclaimed for dischargedsoldier purposes, of the value of £2,514,000, and from the Native Land Settlement Account, valued at £500,000. The capital therefore provided from all sources for discharged-soldier settlement totals approximately £26,148,000. Up to the 31st March the large sum of £8,000,000 had been advanced out of this account to soldiers for housing purposes, but further applications for loans to purchase or erect dwellings for residential purposes must now be dealt with by the State Advances Office, which, in view of the liberal provision made for housing, should suffice to meet requirements. Applications to finance purchases of farms or to discharge, mortgages are now considered only from invalided men who were previously unable to take advantage of the scheme, but who have sufficiently recovered to take up small farms. New applications for loans on current account will be jeceivable from such applicant; a 5 have made their own financial arrangements to purchase land, or who take up Crown or settlement land or abandoned farms, but this cannot be continued indefinitely, and after a date to be subsequently fixed no further applications can be received. Additional advances on current account, for development of farms or to stock areas developed, may be granted up to the maximum as recommended by Land Boards, and the system of readvancing against credits from sales of stock, produce, &c, will be continued in terms of the regulations, but will cease when the occupiers are sufficiently well established to carry on without State aid. REPATRIATION. The benefits under the Repatriation Act ceased to apply to other than tubercular or other seriously disabled soldiers after the 31st December, 1922. Up to that date assistance had been rendered to 63,108 discharged soldiers at a total cost of £2,329,992. The following figures indicate the number assisted, the nature of the assistance given, and the cost: —

Nature of Assistance. Number assisted. Amount. I ! Loans— Business Furniture, tools, &c. Grants — Training, sustenance, &c. Transportation Unemployment sustenance Placed in employment Totals 6,366 15,915 7,538 3,498 1,123 28,668 £ 1,160,536 758,626 397,619 7,634 5,577 63 108 2,329,992