H—llA

Accommodation available, the remoteness and the rigorous nature of the work, and the lack of social amenities do not attract workers. Generally speaking, there has been little apparent attempt to train young men to counterbalance the outflow of older and unfit men from this highly skilled industry. The disastrous fires in this area gave an added, though temporary, setback to the industry. (b) Dairy-farming.—Due partly to the prolonged dry season, the demand for farm hands has not been as great as during the previous twelve months. Nevertheless, vacancies, particularly for single experienced farm hands, have remained fairly constant. The dearth of accommodation has made the placement of married farm workers difficult. (c) Seasonal Labour (Harvesting).—The position was satisfactorily met. The co-operation of the Maori Section of the Primary Production District Council and of the Native Department assisted materially, and several teams of Maoris were engaged upon this work. Assistance was also given by a team of high-school boys during the summer vacation. (d) Building Industry.—The demand for all classes of tradesmen has remained brisk, despite the release of a number of tradesmen from the Forces. The construction of dwellings, cow-sheds, &c., on the Galatea Soldier's Settlement Scheme, the construction of a new sawmill and dwellinghouses at Mamaku, and the provision of mill-houses for the State Forest Service at Kaingaroa all increased the demands for tradesmen. (e) Hospitals.—The greatest calls have been for domestic assistance, though quite a measure of success in relieving the position in most hospitals followed from efforts made to interest Maori girls in hospital work. (/) Hotels and Restaurants.—Although demands for staff required to cater in the main for tourists and holiday-makers during the summer existed in practically every unit, nevertheless the majority were able to cope with the seasonal influx of visitors. Cooks were in the greatest demand. {g) Returned Servicemen. —No great difficulties have been experienced in suitably placing exservicemen. Employers generally have been most helpful, and it has been possible to meet a man's needs as a rule with little delay. Taumarunui District 457. In this district (which is a small one) there has been no unemployment. On the other hand, notified vacancies, for males varying from 130 to 81 and for females varying from 29 to 12, during the period indicate the shortage of labour in this district. For males the main shortages of labour have been in the sawmilling and coal-mining industries ; for females, in hotels and restaurants and in hospitals. Until more and better accommodation is available it is unlikely that many of the male vacancies can be filled. In the timber industry, particularly, remoteness, lack of accommodation and amenities, and to some extent climatic conditions in some parts of the area, limit the ability to recruit labour. The placement of discharged servicemen, both skilled and unskilled, back into industry has proceeded steadily and has presented no difficulties. Gisborne District 458. In the case of males, though available vacancies notified have exceeded on an average the numbers of those disengaged and seeking employment by approximately 4 to 1 for the period, the employment position has been less favourable than in most other districts. Of the vacancies offering, approximately half have been for farm positions (shepherds, fencers, &c.), and in the majority of cases have been only suited to single men. The majority of the remaining vacancies have been for skilled men only, and consequently a small local unemployment problem has been evident in this district from time to time during the twelve months. The problem is essentially one of lack of suitable employment opportunities offering to unskilled seasonal labour during the period March to October inclusive. There are only restricted opportunities offering in the few, but small, secondary industries in this area. In the case of females, vacancies offering, which averaged 46 over the period, have been well in excess of the numbers (no more than sat any one stage) who have registered for employment. Nevertheless, opportunities of employment for female labour in this district are fewer than in most other districts of New Zealand owing to the comparative lack of manufacturing industries.

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