H—llA

(a) Dairy and Sheep Farming.—During the period under review there has been a fairly steady demand for farm hands, particularly experienced men, both for dairy and for sheep, farms, the highest number of notified vacancies on sheep-farms being 19 at 31st January, 1946, and for dairy farms 17 at 30th November, 1945. Inquiries from married men for farm positions carrying suitable accommodation have been fairly numerous. In most cases vacancies providing married accommodation have consequently been quickly filled. Vacancies for single men on both sheep and dairy farms have not been so readily filled. Towards the end of the period limited inquiries for country work such as scrub-cutting were being received. (b) Building Industry.—Notified vacancies (almost entirely for skilled tradesmen, particularly carpenters) have been gradually rising, and at 31st March, 1946, stood at 40. (c) Railways (including Workshops).—All unskilled vacancies had been satisfied before 31st March, 1946, at which date there remained 15 notified vacancies for skilled men. (d) Seasonal Industries. —The demands of these industries (freezing-works, wool-stores, shearing, and dairy faetc>ries) were met with little difficulty. (e) Female Labour. —The most consistent shortage of female labour occurred in hotels and restaurants. The peak of notified vacancies, 30, was reached at 15th January, 1946, but this has subsequently declined to 15 at 31st March, 1946. The notified vacancies in hospitals have remained fairly steady with 12 notified vacancies remaining unsatisfied at 31st March, 1946. Shortages of female labour have also been evident in several other industries, particularly in woollen-mills and clothing and boot and shoe factories. (/) Returned Servicemen. —-Placement of ex-servicemen has proceeded very satisfactorily during the period under review, though it has at times been necessary to offer men temporary work pending an opportunity of placing them in employment of a more suitable nature. In the majority of cases the men have returned to their pre-war service employment. At 31st March, 1946, there were no returned servicemen registered for employment. Palmerston North District 465. The ratio between the number of vacancies for men notified and the numbers of men disengaged and seeking employment through the Department has, on average over the period,.been approximately 7 to 1, and the employment position has remained buoyant. This has been particularly so during the period of seasonal employment. No difficulties have been experienced by skilled men in finding suitable employment, while there has been ample work offering for fit unskilled men. In common with the position in a number of other districts, difficulty has, however, at times been experienced in locating work suited to semi-fit unskilled men able to undertake work of only a light nature. 466. With never more than one woman registered as seeking employment at any one time as compared with notified vacancies ranging from 142 to 272, a marked shortage of female labour has been apparent. Generally speaking, there have been comparatively few females inquiring for work, while advertisements by individual firms for female labour have brought forth little or no response. (a) Farming.—A fairly steady demand for farm hands was shown by both sheep and dairy farms throughout the period up to the end of 1945, when an easing off became apparent due to the decline in production resulting from drought conditions. Most of the demands received were for youths or single men, whereas the great proportion of inquiries for work of this sort (largely from ex-servicemen) were for farm work offering married accommodation. Lack of suitable accommodation thus prevented many inquirers from being satisfied. Difficulty was also experienced in obtaining sufficient shearers and shed hands to satisfy all vacancies. (b) Building Industry.—With all available men in this industry fully employed, and despite the shortage of raw materials and house fittings, a fairly heavy demand for carpenters and allied tradesmen remained throughout the whole period, due to the large number of houses under construction. If more matexials were available a considerable number of skilled tradesmen could still be absorbed in this industry. (c) Engineering Industry.—With plenty of work on hand most of the engineering establishments in the district were handicapped by a shortage of skilled men, despite the absorption of skilled men released from the Armed Forces. (d) Dairy Factories. —The seasonal labour demands of butter and cheese factories were fully met during the season, and when reductions were made with the decline of seasonal production no difficulties were experienced by the men concerned in obtaining employment locally, principally on farms.

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