H—lB

SECTION X—BUSINESS LOANS AND SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR EX-SERVICEMEN (i) General 71. The interest of ex-servicemen in acquiring or establishing their own businesses is still strong, and during the year 1,373 loans were authorized, aggregating £933,151, £& against 1,344 loans aggregating £996,878, for the year ended 31st March, 1948. Table IV of the Appendix shows the total number and amount of business loans to the 31st March, 1949, under the main headings. 72. At present 1,024 ex-servicemen are recorded with the Department as requiring businesses of various types. This figure by no means represents the total demand, as many men desiring settlement in the business field will only approach the Department when they have located a specific proposition. 73. During the year the Ministry of Works erected a number of shops at Mangakino, the headquarters for the Waikato hydro-electric construction schemes, and, by arrangement, preference was given to ex-servicemen, fully supported by the Rehabilitation Board on rehabilitation grounds in the allocation of the tenancies. Competition by ex-servicemen for the shops was keen, and where necessary the ballot system was 'adopted to decide the successful applicants. The same preference will be extended to ex-servicemen as further tenancies are offered. 74. In general, ex-servicemen assisted into business have continued to make satisfactory progress. (ii) Licensed Industries 75. In this field ex-servicemen have shown a decided preference for the transport industry. The number of loans authorized to establish or purchase taxi, service-car and mail-contracting services, and carrying businesses is 2,226, which represents 3044 per cent, of the total business loan authorizations to 31st March, 1949. 76. During the year 640 licences were obtained by ex-servicemen under the Transport Licensing Act, 1931. This total comprises 234 taxi, 49 passenger, 342 goods, and 15 rental-car licences. It is interesting to record that the 31 new taxi licences recently authorized in Auckland were all granted to ex-servicemen. 77. Licences granted to ex-servicemen by the Bureau of Industry totalled 80 for the year. The industries involved were petrol reselling 62, pharmacy 15, and footwear-manufacturing 3. 78. Ex-servicemen also received limited preference in the granting of fishing licences under the Fisheries Amendment Act, 1945, Exhibitors' licences under Cinematograph Films Emergency Regulations 1946, and in the sale of milk rounds under the' Milk Act, 1944. 79. Provision has been made in the Licensing Amendment Act, 1948, for the rehabilitation of ex-servicemen to be taken into account when applications for new publicans', tourist-house, and wholesale licences which may be authorized by the Licensing Control Commission are being considered by the appropriate Licensing Committee. The interest already displayed by ex-servicemen who have had long associations with the licensed trade indicates that many will be applicants, particularly for wholesale licences. 80. A number of ex-servicemen are interested in establishing air services as a means to their permanent rehabilitation and, as with the Licensing Amendment Act, 1948, provision has been made in the National Airways Amendment Act, 1948, for the rehabilitation of ex-servicemen to be taken into account when applications for permits are being considered. However, the opportunities for ex-servicemen to establish independent air services will be limited owing to the services already being provided by the National Airways Corporation and aero clubs.

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