H.—l9b

war. This Schedule has been made available to the Man-power District Advisory Committees, and it is from this list that the Committees interpret the policy to be adopted in dealing with applications for postponement. Another important problem was the formulation of a recommendation for the regulations covering the issue of certificates and badges to those volunteers whose service with the armed Forces has been postponed on account of their importance to industry and production. After a comprehensive survey of the problems involved, recommendations were finalized, in co-operation with other interested organizations, and it is hoped that the certificates and badges will be available at an early date. The Council gave close consideration to the problem of dealing with applications for postponement from military service. It was felt that this could best be served by the establishment of sixteen Manpower District Advisory Committees in the more important centres. It was considered that if the Committee personnel comprised men with wide experience in production methods and industrial occupations, together with extensive local knowledge, the Committees would make a valuable contribution towards the man-power activities. Committees have, now been, set up and have commenced to function. Considerable thought and research was given to the problem of replacement of farm labour, and it is felt that the measures recommended ,to the Government, and which are being adopted, will go a long way to meet the position when the demand arises in the spring. A survey of the man-power employed on State projects has been undertaken. Departmental officers are engaged in interviewing the men on these jobs, and it is hoped that as an outcome sufficient men will be transferred to primary production to meet immediate demands for labour. A policy of promoting housing under the Rural Housing Act, 1939, to enable married men to be engaged as farm labourers has been dealt with by the Council. The use of Public Works equipment and materials and a co-operative scheme of utilizing farm machinery have been fully considered, and the Council's recommendations are now being dealt with by expert Committees. The provision of temporary accommodation has also received attention. The Council has considered ways and means of providing for the apprentice who enlists in the armed Forces, and it is hoped to have regulations finalized whereby those apprentices who engage in comparable work whilst on active service shall have their time counted as if they were still employed in their normal calling. MAN-POWER DISTRICT ADVISORY COMMITTEES. Recently the Government decided to appoint Man-power District Advisory Committees to consider and report on all matters referred to them, and to adjudicate on applications from employers for the postponement of service of any employee. In their determinations the Committees will interpret Government policy having regard to the • exigencies of the war. The personnel of the Committees comprise the Chairman (representative of the local bodies in the district) and two members representing employers and employees respectively. The Committees have been set up at the following centres : Auckland, Whangarei, Hamilton, Paeroa, New Plymouth, Wanganui, Gisborne, Napier, Masterton, Wellington, Nelson, Greymouth, Timaru, Christchurch, Dunedin, and Invercargill. The Schedule of Reserved Occupations used since the outbreak of the war has been abolished, and comprehensive measures have been formulated in respect of the most important occupations and industries as a guide to the Committees. Experience has shown that while a definite schedule of some form is necessary as a basis from which to work, conditions change so rapidly that it is more satisfactory to deal with applications on their merits as far as possible, having regard always to the conditions in the district. The Government has therefore laid it down as a policy that no industry or service is to be completely or permanently reserved. When periods of postponement are granted by the Committees the employer will be expected to do everything possible to obtain a replacement within the time stipulated. In general, the Committees will grant deferment of military service for short periods only, and cases will be subject to continuous review. The employers will have a right to make a further application at the end of the period, and in special cases the applications for further postponements may be granted. In the past there has been some difficulty in retaining in their jobs men whose enlistments have been deferred by the operation of the Reserved Schedule. In cases where postponements arc granted by Committees a special appeal will be made to the employee to remain at his occupation until the period of postponement expires, or until he can be satisfactorily replaced, and it is hoped that such appeals will have the desired effect. The deferred volunteer will be issued with a badge indicating that he has enlisted, together with a certificate covering the conditions of issue. NATIONAL SURVEY : SOCIAL SECURITY REGISTER. Long before international relations became acutely strained the Government had in contemplation the undertaking of some form of national survey to provide an up-to-date and reliable basis for the forecasts essential to the implementation of its programme of social legislation. Later, with the apparent imminence of hostilities, it was felt that the matter was one of urgency, and it was decided to put in hand the compilation of a Social Security Register which would, in effect, provide the facilities of a National Register for war purposes should the need unfortunately arise. The wisdom of this decision is now apparent, for the Register now in course of compilation will serve as well for wartime purposes as it would have for the promotion of the peaceful social progress which it was originally hoped would be its only utilization. That accurate statistical information is necessary in time of war is a fact that need scarcely be stressed and is evidenced by the national registrations recently effected in Great Britain and in Australia, the latter involving the taking of a census of both persons and property.

2