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SECTION lII.—DEMOBILIZATION The progress of demobilization to 31st March, 1947, is shown in Table IV of the Appendix. Of the total of 182,510 ex-servicemen and ex-servicewomen demobilized at -31 st March, 1947, 128,416 served overseas, whilst 54,094 served in New Zealand. SECTION IV.—DEPARTMENTAL AND LOAN EXPENDITURES 1. Departmental expenditure and loan authorizations for rehabilitation purposes for the year ended 31st March, 1947, totalled £21,349,400, representing an increase of £5,673,886 by comparison with the total of £15,675,514 for the previous year. 2. Details of departmental expenditure are summarized in Table V of the Appendix, while details of loan authorizations appear in Table 111. SECTION V.—LOAN FACILITIES 1. Table 111 of the Appendix details the totals of loan authorizations under various headings from the commencement of operations to 31st March, 1947. 2. It will be remarked that the year has been one of considerably increased activity in all fields of loan business. 3. The successful handling of this large volume has been largely due to the •efficient functioning of the District Executive Committees which are operating at Auckland, Hamilton, Napier, New Plymouth, Wellington, Nelson, Christchurch, Dunedin, and Invercargill, under the general direction of the Rehabilitation Loans -Committee. To this successful functioning a large contribution is also made by the officers of the State Advances Corporation, who are responsible for executive and •administrative action. SECTION VI.—BUSINESS LOANS AND SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR EX-SERVICEMEN (i) General 1. Ex-servicemen continue to evince an active interest in the acquisition or ■establishment of businesses of all types. Loan authorizations for the year under review totalled £1,137,119 in 1,661 cases, compared with £951,868 in 1,640 cases in the previous year. 2. There is still a known unsatisfied demand for businesses of various types from .some 1,500 ex-servicemen who have indicated their requirements to the Rehabilitation Department. In addition, it is estimated on the basis of past experience that there is a large potential demand, probably of some thousands, who will desire settlement in businesses on their own account when suitable opportunities occur. 3. It is pleasing to record that, in general, those ex-servicemen who have been assisted in this field are making satisfactory progress. (ii) The Transport Industry 1. This field continues to prove most attractive to ex-servicemen, and the facilities offered by the Rehabilitation Department by way of assistance in obtaining licences, finance, vehicles, and equipment are widely availed of. 2. During the year under review 1,023 licences were obtained by ex-servicemen, whilst at 31st March, 1947, 525 ex-servicemen were registered with the Department .as being desirous of entering the industry. 3. A number of ex-Army trucks were allocated to ex-servicemen throughout the year on recommendations made by the Rehabilitation Department, but there is still .a substantial demand for types lighter than those available from surplus Army stocks. 4. In the field of taxi operation ex-servicemen continue to show a marked interest. In the year reviewed 308 licences were obtained, whilst there are some 290 men registered as desirous of entering the field. The problem of replacement of the many worn vehicles in the industry is acute.

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