REHABILITATION WORK

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 88, Issue 4, 6 January 1944, Page 3

REHABILITATION WORK

GOVERNMENT ASSISTS EX-SERVICEMEN (P.A.) Wellington, Jan. 5. An indication of the extent to which the Government is assisting ex-ser-vicemen in re-establishing themselves in civil life is given by figures for financial assistance granted through the State Advances Corporation which were released to-day by the Minister of R.ehabilitaton, Major C. F. Skinner. During November 11 loans for the purchase of farms were made, involving an amount of £31,259; 76 advances were made for the erection or purchase of houses, totalling £77,870; 14 loans totalling £3BO were made for the purchase of tools of trade, and 170 nans totalling £16,215 for the purchase of furniture, and £11,052 was advanced to ex-servicemen for the purchase of businesses. The total amount advanced during the month to exservicemen w as £.136,812. Since the commencement of the scheme 162 ex-servicemen have been settled on freehold farms, and the sum of £471,629 has been advanced for this purpose; 525 applications have Peen approved for the erection or purchase of dwellings, involving an amount of £527,710; 105 ex-service-men have been assisted to buy tools of trade to the extent of £2628; and £114,210 has been advanced for the purchase of businesses. The total amount advanced to the ex-servicemen up to the end of November is £1,168,195, and the number of ex-service men who have been granted assistance is 2234. It was the Government’s aim, added the Minister, tn help in every possible way ex-servicemen who were eligible for assistance, and this help was only withheld wh£n expert opinion considered it not in the best, interests of the man himself to take up the business or the farm that he proposed.