H—lB

PREFACE (i) The year ended 31st March, 1947, has been marked by a considerable increase in all fields of rehabilitation activity, this, of course, being the natural corollary of almost complete demobilization of the Armed Forces. (ii) In general, there have been comparatively few changes in administrative policy in the year under review, and it is satisfactory to record that the organization of the Rehabilitation Department, with its close liaison with other State organizations which -act as agents of the Rehabilitation Board, has proved adequate to the demands placed upon it. (iii) Notwithstanding the fact that the year under review has been one of record activity—as will be seen from the discussion of all separate phases in later sections of this report —and although, in the aggregate, the five years of the Board's existence has seen the granting of some 86,000 applications for assistance of various types from exservicemen and ex-servicewomen, much remains to be done, particularly in the provision of homes, farms, and businesses for those eligible and suitable for such assistance. (iv) For the demand, known or potential, for education, training and assistance in obtaining employment adequate facilities exist not only for the expeditious handling •of applications, but also for providing the required service. (v) Where the assistance applied for is dependent in whole or in part upon procuring commodities or services which are in short supply at the present time, however, the time involved in the completion of effective rehabilitation will necessarily be governed by the rate at which such goods and services become available. This applies generally to housing and farm settlement, and, to some extent, to business establishment.

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