H.—35.

The activities under Scheme No. 4b, where the Board meets one-half of the labour-cost of contracts for development-work on farms, show a further decided increase. From the inception of the scheme to the 30th June, 1935, 9,633 contracts have been completed and 20,990 men paid off, while 1,136 contracts employing 2,247 men are at present in operation and a further 239 contracts to employ 391 men have been approved but not yet commenced. The grand total of placements under the scheme since its inception is therefore 23,237 men, with a further 391 placements pending, while the total subsidies expended to 31st March, 1935, is £232,415, of which £113,236 was expended during the financial year 1934-35. The works carried out under the scheme are of a definitely developmental nature calculated to increase the primary production—and thus the national wealth —of the Dominion, as will be seen from the following statement of operations carried out, or to be carried out, under contracts which have been approved : — Acres. Scrubcutting .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 564,133 Bushfelling .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 56,489 Stumping .. .. .. .. .. .. 37,230 G-rubbing .. .. .. .. .. .. 18,933 Sowing .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 6,313 Ploughing and harrowing .. .. .. .. ... .. 5,257 Top-dressing .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 11,086 Chains. Fencing .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 58,620 Drainage ... .. .. .. .. .. .. 137,026 Roading .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 3,878 Splitting— Number. Posts and strainers .. .. .. .. .. .. 283,437 Battens .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 399,758 It is estimated that, as a result of the works itemized above, the land concerned will carry an additional 668,366 sheep, 97,060 cattle, and 490 pigs. Scheme No. 11, for rabbit-destruction, was closed from May to September, 1934, in view of the high prices obtaining for rabbit-skins consequent upon the cold winter. The scheme was reopened at about the end of September and continued in operation until the middle of June, 1935, when it was decided to permit of contracts only with the voluntary local Rabbit Committees who are using poisoning and/or fumigating processes, with the result that the workers engaged are in receipt of insufficient returns from the skins to expect them to continue on this work without assistance. The number of workers who have been employed for varying periods under this scheme is 4,324, and the amount expended during the financial year 1934-35 was £8,837. SMALL FARM PLAN, The Small Farm Plan is administered by the Small Farms Board, but the Unemployment Board continues to assist in its operation by providing sustenance allowances for occupiers where it is established that they are not yet self-supporting. The maximum rate of sustenance allowance is £1 per week, and the term thereof is limited to thirteen weeks, except in certain cases, where the position may be reviewed. Assistance" from the Unemployment Fund in this direction during the financial year 1933-34 amounted to £18,300. Administrative co-operation between the two Boards is maintained through the appointment to the Small Farms Board of Mr. W. Bromley, Deputy-Chairman of the Unemployment Board. CAMP SCHEMES. A considerable amount of valuable improvement and development work has been carried out by the placement of unemployed labour (both married and single men) in relief camps established by various State Departments and local bodies. The Department or local body controlling the work is required to meet the establishment costs of the camps and provide supervision, tools, &c., the Unemployment Board providing a contribution on a man-week basis towards the running-costs of the camps. In certain approved cases the Unemployment Board has undertaken to meet the full cost of the work carried out, including establishment costs, labour, &c. The following will give a general idea of the class of work which has been and is still being carried out under relief camp schemes : — Improvement of existing roads and main highways, land drainage, and development of Crown land generally, afforestation, and land-clearing and improvement work on private property in various parts of the Dominion. A condition to the placement of relief labour on privately-owned property is that the property-owner is required to contribute towards the cost, the contribution usually being fixed at 50 per cent, of the estimated cost of the work to be carried out. Work on private property is arranged on the co-operative contract system at unit rates estimated to return to an average worker a specified weekly amount, although the average earnings of a good group of workers would possibly exceed the weekly figure on which contract rates are fixed. The principal State Departments under whose control relief camps have been established are the Public Works Department, Main Highways Board, Lands and Survey Department, and State Forest Service. Up till December of last year the Main Highways Board had been employing a number of single men under the camp scheme in effecting improvements on Main Highways, but it was decided that as the works in hand were completed most of these camps should be closed down. Where the Highways Board wished to retain camps of single men for the completion of certain works, it was arranged that the men would be employed under normal conditions —i.e., full-time employment at standard rates of pay.

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