H—llA

345. From September, 1942, when it was reorganized, a total of 2,711 girls were at some time employed as members of the Service, and a total of 2,963 farmers at some time employed members of the Service. 346. After the reorganization of the Service in September, 1942, the Women's War Service Auxiliary continued to co-operate with the Department in maintaining contact with Service members through its District Committees and attending to any welfare aspects which arose. In addition to attending very successfully to many other welfare aspects, the Auxiliary was instrumental in the formation of Land Grirls' Clubs in several districts. Tables 18 and 19 of the Appendix give detailed information relating to the Women's Land Service. SECTION VI.—GENERAL ACTIVITIES (i) Employment Promotion 347. The use of employment-promotion schemes has been reduced as a result of the general high level of employment and vacancies throughout industry. Only one scheme (Scheme 13) has continued in operation over the twelve months. This scheme has been used mainly to retain in useful work a small number of men who, for various reasons, such as failing health, are not able to obtain ordinary employment where the employer would have to pay full wages. Of the 372 men employed under the scheme at the 31st March, 1946, 94 per cent, were fit for only light work, and the balance were men who could not be placed in local employment, and who could not reasonably be expected to accept employment in other districts owing to domestic circumstances. The payment of a subsidy on wages enables such men to remain at work and so avoids the socially and economically undesirable action of making them a total charge on the State. Apart from such cases the scheme has been used only to meet a few exceptional cases of unavoidable short-term unemployment. Workers placed on Scheme 13 are registered for employment, and efforts to place them in ordinary employment are continued. From time to time suitable openings occur, and all such opportunities are seized upon for placing the men back in normal employment of a kind within their capacity. While they remain on Scheme 13 their wages are subsidized to bring their total earnings up to the award rate for the work performed. 348. The numbers of men engaged in each main class of work were — Vegetable-production (including seed-growing) .. .. .. 58 Parks and reserves .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 131 Roads, drainage, &c. .. .. .. .. .. .. 148 School and college grounds .. .. . .. .. 22 Harbour-maintenance .. .. .. .. .. .. 2 Lime-production . . .. .. .. .. .. .. 2 Tramways . . .. .. .. .. .. .. 3 Afforestation and soil conservation .. .. .. .. .. 1 Supervisory capacity .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 5 372 349. The following table shows the number in age-groups of those employed at the 31st March, 1946

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Age-group. Number. Percentage. Age-group. Number. Percentage. 20-24 25-29 30-34 35-39 40-44 3 5 15 18 41 0-80 1-35 4-03 4-84 11 02 45-49 50-54 55-59 60 and over 54 45 93 98 14-52 12-09 25-00 26-35 372 100