H.—35.

The Secondary Industries Committee has considered a large amount of data and a number of reports in connection with existing and projected industries. Several of its recommendations have been received and adopted by the Board, and a brief resume of these is given in a subsequent section dealing with the question of employment in the secondary industries. This committee at the end of March was occupied in considering many different matters, the subject of which forms the basis of later recommendations. The Economic and Finance Committee has deliberated on many important matters dealing with the financing of the Board's various schemes, and has given a great deal of thought to the question of conserving the Fund so that the greatest benefit to the unemployed will be derived therefrom. A large number of applications for financial assistance has been investigated. Influx of Unemployed from Abroad. A matter which caused the Board some concern early in 1931 was the danger of the influx of unemployed men from other countries. A request was accordingly made to the Government to give urgent consideration to the question of restricting the immigration of unemployed from Australia and elsewhere, and largely as a result of these representations the Immigration Restriction Amendment Act was placed on the statute-book during the special emergency session of Parliament. Receipts and Payments. The following statement shows the receipts to and payments from the Unemployment Fund as at the 31st March, 1931 :— UNEMPLOYMENT FUND. Statement of Receipts and Payments fob Pebiod 11th October, 1930, to 31st March, 1931. Payments. Receipts. By Fees and travelling-expenses £ s. d. £ s. d. To Levies paid to Public Account by £ s. d. i under section 16— Post Office .. .. 229,000 00 [ Fees to members .. 1,348 4 0 Subsidy from Consolidated Fund 159,246 11 3 Travelling-expenses.. 582 9 2 Donations .. .. .. 10 0 1,930 13 2 Interest on investments .. 8 16 9 Grants under section 18— Scheme No. 1 .. 24,198 5 7 Scheme No. 2 .. 30,155 8 4 Scheme No. 3 .. 8,788 11 6 Scheme No. 4a .. 1,056 8 11 Scheme No. 5 .. 241,618 2 0 Earthquake relief — Hastings .. .. 1,311 0 0 Napier .. .. 836 16 3 Miscellaneous special grants .. .. 205 13 4 Grant to Native Trustee 5,000 0 0 Accident compensation under Scheme No. 2 38 18 8 313,209 4 7 Administration expenses — Advertising .. .. .14 8 0 Miscellaneous.. .. 0 15 0 Office equipment .. 8 6 4 Overtime and tea-money 37 6 6 Postages and telegrams 393 17 2 . Printing and stationery 2,264 5 2 Salaries .. .. 1,282 9 10 4,001 8 0 Balance .. .. .. .. 69,115 2 3 £388,256 8 0 £388,256 8 0 Note. —The sum of £47,774 10s., held by the Post Office, received before the close of the financial year but not paid to Public Account until after 31st March, 1931, has not been included in the receipts. sth August, 1931. Malcolm Fbaser, Commissioner of Unemployment. I hereby certify that the Statement of Receipts and Payments has been duly examined and compared with the relative books and documents submitted for audit, and correctly states the position as disclosed thereby, subject to the above departmental note. —G. F. C. Campbell, Controller and Auditor-General. 3. SUPPLEMENTARY REPORT FOR THE PERIOD SUBSEQUENT TO 31st MARCH, 1931. The Unemployment Board's report has so far been confined to its activities up to the end of the 1930-31 financial year. In view of subsequent developments leading up to the passing of the Unemployment Amendment Act, 1931, under which the Board, as appointed by the principal Act, is abolished as from the 31st July, 1931, it is deemed advisable to provide a complementary account bringing the report up to date.

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