H.—lB

General Progress towards Re-establishment. —Of the total of 601 returned and demobilized Native ex-servicemen and women dealt with by 31st March, only 2 were actually awaiting placement by the Rehabilitation Service, but due to contact difficulties the position of a further 38 was obscure. The Rehabilitation Service, in contacting Maori ex-servicemen, has made use of the assistance of the Recruiting Officers of the Maori war effort organization, and the assistance rendered by these officers and by the tribal committees has been valuable. The officers of the Native Department have also co-operated, to good purpose, with Rehabilitation Officers in their efforts to re-establish ex-servicemen. Table 111 of the Appendix gives details of the progress towards re-establishment of the 601 Maori ex-servicemen and women who had been invalided out of the forces-as at 31st March of this year. Land Settlement and Development. —The farm training and land-settlement of Maori ex-servicemen has been considered by the Board in relation to its general plans in this field. In addition, however, it is recognized that provision for the further development of Native lands, including tribal land offered to the Board for Maori settlement, as well as rationalization of farm management, will require to be made. The Board has conferred with the Native Department, which administers Maori developmental measures, and it is anticipated that within the rehabilitation framework these measures, with appropriate modifications, will provide for the agricultural rehabilitation of Native ex-servicemen. Native Housing.—The Board is aware that the need for greatly increasing the number of Maori dwellings is equally as urgent as the need for relieving the general housing shortage. Accordingly the Board plans to launch, in co-operation with the Native Department and the Public Works Department, a Native housing scheme as soon as labour and materials can be deflected from the war effort for this purpose. An important part of the scheme will be the use of the services of Maori men and youths to be trained under the Board's trade training scheme. Trade Training.—Already the Board has taken steps to provide special trade-training facilities for Maori ex-servicemen in addition to those available under the general trade training scheme. At Ohinemutu, near Rotorua, the first Maori rehabilitation trade training centre has recently been established. Its opening has been materially assisted by the generosity of the Arawa tribe, which placed at the Board's disposal the site and building where the centre is being carried on. The Ohinemutu centre is already training a class of twelve ex-servicemen carpentry trainees, and the formation of a second class is well in hand. Training methods employed are similar to those followed in the trade training centres elsewhere. There is already evidence to show that the Maori ex-servicemen in training at the Ohinemutu centre are making excellent progress and all of them give promise of developing into good " all round " tradesmen. The Ohinemutu Maori training centre is expected to play a significant part in training Maori youths and men to implement the Native housing scheme referred to above. It is the first centre of its kind, but the possibility of opening a further centre in the North Auckland district is being kept in view by the Board. (16) APPRECIATION The first annual report of the Rehabilitation Board would be incomplete without reference to the assistance of various kinds made available to it by both organizations and individual persons. The Board has throughout been ably advised by the National Rehabilitation Council and individual Council members, who have rendered valuable service. It has also at all times received the sympathetic assistance of the Returned Services' Association and of other organizations. It is the desire of the Board to make special mention of gifts of property and of money made by citizens who have had the welfare of New Zealand's serving men at heart. Among these gifts are included the Homewood Trust Farm, gifted by Mr. George Alley, of Tauranga ; the Wairarapa Training Farm, the use of which has been made available by the trustees ; and the Anderson Block Farm property, gifted by the late Sir Robert Anderson. Gifts of money by Mr. Josiah Udy, of Carterton, Mr. Salvatore Guidice, of Dunedin, and an anonymous lady donor of Dunedin are also gratefully acknowledged. The Board is also desirous of acknowledging the enthusiastic co-operation of the Arawa tribe in connection with the establishment of the Maori rehabilitation trade training centre at Ohinemutu, near Rotorua. This trade training centre, the first of its kind, has been assisted by the act of the Arawa tribe in placing at the disposal of the Board the fine building in which the centre is operating. Splendid service has been rendered by the Secretary to the Board and his staff. Their ability, enthusiasm, and unfailing courtesy have contributed in no small measure to the success that has so far been achieved in implementing the Government's plans for the rehabilitation of ex-servicemen and women. Valued assistance has also been received by the Board from the various co-operating departmental heads and staffs, and the Board desires to record its appreciation of this assistance.

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