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1946 NEW ZEALAND

DEPARTMENT OF LABOUR (REPORT OF THE)

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency

The Hon. the Minister of Labour to His Excellency the Governor-General. Wellington, 30th July, 1946. I have the honour to submit to Your Excellency the report of the Department of Labour for the year ended 31st March, 1946. Jas. O'Brien, For Minister of Labour. His Excellency the Governor-General of New Zealand.

The Acting-Secretary, Department of Labour, to the Hon. the Minister of Labour. Sir, — Department of Labour, Wellington, 30th July, 1946. I have the honour to present herewith the fifty-fifth annual report of this Department for the information of His Excellency the Governor-General, and to be laid before Parliament in compliance with the Labour Department Act, 1908, and the Factories Act, 1921-22. The report covers the financial year Ist April, 1945, to 31st March, 1946. I have, &c, E. B. Taylor, Acting-Secretary of Labour. The Hon. the Minister of Labour.

REPORT

EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS IN FACTORIES Mention was made in the last annual report of a slight upward tendency in the number of workers employed in factories. This upward tendency has continued in the case of male employees, but there has been a reduction in the number of female employees. An acute shortage of female labour is now reported in practically all districts, while juvenile labour is also in short supply. In an effort to overcome the shortage of female labour a number of firms carrying on business in the main centres have opened branch factories in country districts or small towns. This applies chiefly in the clothing and the boot trades. In addition, men have been engaged in some cases to perform work previously done exclusively by women. There has been an increase in the number of factories manufacturing plastic goods.