MANY APPLICATIONS FOR NEW CARS BY EX-SERVICEMEN

Wanganui Chronicle, 15 December 1949, Page 4

MANY APPLICATIONS FOR NEW CARS BY EX-SERVICEMEN

More than 50 applications have been received al. the Wanganui office

of the Rehabilitation Department since the announcement that a number of new light cars would be available to certain ex-servicemen. Though last Monday was generally considered to be the closing day for applications, further inquiries and applications will be accepted by the department.

The number of ears to be imported will not be decided until the Rehabilitation Board in Wellington has examined all applications. Eight type* of cars are listed ror allocation and a decision will then be made as to the number of each type lor which an import licence will be applied. Allocations will depend on the import licences being granted, but it is expected that a number of vehicles will be made available as soon as the authority is issued, for it is possible that a number of firms are holding cars in bond. Applicants whose need;, are considered most urgent will re ceive first delivery. It was stated yesterday that priority for allocation is graded into three groups. The top group will include taxi and mail delivery services, doctors and disabled men. It is not considered that this will be a large group as most of the cars listed are regarded as too small for such purposes. Second priority will be given farmers, surveyors, insurance agents and a wide list of other occupations for which a car is necessary. In the third category are company managers and secretaries, clerical and other employees of private firms, and civil servants who operate their cars on a mileage basis for their work. The two most important points ot eligibility for ex-servicemen applications are, firstly, that service qualification is the same for business loans irrespective of whether finance is required or not, and secondly, that it must be established that there is a genuine rehabilitation need for a car, either for business purposes or because of disability. From the volume of inquiries throughout New Zealand it appears that an import licence large enough to meet the demand is not likely to be granted. So it appears certain that the most necessitous cases only will receive cars.