H—lB

SECTION VI—PROVISION FOR THE DISABLED (i) Disabled Servicemen's Re-establishment League (" D " Class Training) 39. Training in a variety of trades suited to tlie limited capacities of disabled men is given throughout the League Centres at Auckland, Napier, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin, and Invereargill under subsidy from the Rehabilitation Board. Although the demand on the League for this type of training has passed its peak there are still numbers of men receiving medical treatment for war disabilities who will eventually require assistance through this avenue. 40. The League's training farm at Milson has proved its value, and co-operation between the League and the Rehabilitation and Land Settlement Boards is now resulting in the settlement on suitable holdings of trainees who have qualified after training at this centre. 41. Table VIII of the Appendix gives the numbers trained by, and in training with, the League. (ii) Blinded Servicemen's Trust Board (" F " Class Training) 42. The work of the Blinded Servicemen's Trust Board has shown little diminution •over the year, and it is apparent that the facilities provided by the combined training •centre and hostel are still required for the re-establishment of those who lost their sight •or suffered visual disablement as a result of service. 43. As at 31st March, 1949, there were thirteen trainees at the centre of whom four were resident at the hostel. (iii) Assistance to Ex-servicemen and Women Suffering from Serious Locomotive Disabilities to Enable the Purchase of a Motor-car 44. During the year the Board decided to make available to ex-servicemen with serious pensionable locomotive disabilities special interest-free loans to assist in the purchase of a car. In addition, the Board decided to provide in those cases where it is needed assistance to fit extra mechanical controls in the cars so purchased. 45. The amount of interest-free loan available towards the purchase of a car will be £2OO. It will be a secured interest-free loan, repayable only if the car is sold or otherwise disposed of within two years of the loan being made. At the end of two years, if the ex-serviceman still owns the car, the interest-free loan will be converted into a free grant. 46. These special loans are available to ex-servicemen who have permanent locomotive disabilities assessed for pension purposes at a minimum of 85 per cent, of total -disability. 47. Any further loan assistance required by disabled ex-servicemen for the purchase of motor-vehicles will be considered on its merits in accordance with the Board's policy regarding business loans. SECTION VII—EDUCATION (i) General 48. The keenness of ex-servicemen to improve their qualifications and employment prospects through study is again reflected in the steady volume of applications for educational assistance dealt witjt during the past year. 49. Although there has been a decrease in the number of new applications received any consequent reduction in work has been more than offset by the attention and consideration now required to be given to bursaries granted in previous years and the growing tendency for new applications to be more difficult and complex in character.

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