8.-6

XX

The following table shows the main items of expenditure and the number of men assisted :—

Bepayments. —Collections by the Department in reduction of loans advanced amounted on the 31st March, 1920, to the sum of £117,011, and an additional £5,178 had been collected as interest. In this connection it should be noted that loans for household furniture and tools of trade are granted free of interest, but grantees of business loans are required to pay interest at 5 per cent, per annum upon amounts owing in excess of £50. The above extremely satisfactory results are largely owing, firstly, to the praiseworthy manner in which the returned soldiers who have been assisted in establishing themselves in small businesses have responded to the efforts on their behalf, and, secondly, to the exertions of the local committees, many of whom have given their services gratuitously. Wab Belief Funds. Collections accounted for by the War Belief Funds Office amounted to approximately £5,000,000 —an average, on liberal lines, of £4 ss. per capita — which does not include gift goods despatched by the Internal Affairs Department, valued at £557,536. Up to the 31st March, 1920, the following relief has been provided overseas by the people of the Dominion : — £ Belgian relief .... .... .... .... 354,491 Other Belgian funds .... .... .... 6,917 For other Allies .... .... .... .... 43,951 Belief in United Kingdom .... ... .... 22,301 British Bed Cross .... .... .... .... 332,440 British Navy relief .... .... .... .... 123,922 New Zealand hospital ships .... .... .... 67,555 New Zealand Comforts Fund .... .... 180,713 New Zealand War Belief Fund .... .... 16,455 Regimental funds .... .... .... .... 13,345 Sundry small funds .... .... .... .... 9,886 Total .... .... .... .... £1,171,976 To this may be added the following : — £ Gift goods .... .... .... .... .... 557,536 Bemittance to various funds through Internal Affairs Department .... .... .... 69,318 Dominion schools' contribution to Belgian Children's Fund .... .... .... .... 18,364 Government subsidy to Belgian Fund .... .... 228,145 Total .... .... .... .... £2,045,339 A detailed statement of the operations of the War Belief Funds Office will be found in the departmental annual report.

Item. Number assisted. I Business Furniture Tools Training Transportation and miscellaneous expenditure Placed in employment Granted sustenance allowances 3,924 5,840 779 5,319 2,269 16,681 930 £ £ 618,144 208,103 16,268 133,185 7,987 4,457 Totals 35,742 842,515 145,629