H—llA

(e) Freezing-worlcs.—The opening of the freezing-works season in late November brought heavy ■demands for fit unskilled labour at the Longburn and Feilding works, and some difficulties arose in obtaining sufficient men, particularly at the Feilding works. Though a few more men could have been absorbed, nevertheless both works were able to achieve record killings, and activity was still being maintained at the end of March. No particular difficulty is anticipated in suitably placing the majority of the men elsewhere in industry upon termination of their seasonal employment. (/) Female Labour.—Hotels and restaurants have been very short of staff, with a peak unsatisfied demand of 72 at 15th January, 1946, though by 31st March, 1946, the vacancies had fallen off to 32. Hospitals have also been short of domestic staff during the period. The peak number of notified vacancies was 39 at 31st January, 1946, falling to 27 at 31st March, 1946. The number of unsatisfied vacancies on record in clothing-factories was 20 on 31st December, 1945, but had risen to 77 by 31st March, 1946. Part of this increase was due to loss of staff following the raising of the declaration of essentiality from clothing-factories. Apart from the possible absorption of male labour, there appears to be little possibility of reducing the over-all shortage. A similar shortage of female labour occurred in the knitting-mills, with unsatisfied vacancies rising from 9 on 30th September, 1945, to 34 on 31st March, 1946. (g) Returned Servicemen.—No particular difficulties have been experienced in placing ex-servicemen, especially the fit men, whether skilled or unskilled. In the case of semi-fit men (few in number) it has not always been easy to locate suitable work. Masterton District 467. As in other districts, the employment position has been buoyant during the period, with available vacancies for males exceeding, on an average, the numbers of disengaged men by approximately 7to 1. Opportunities of employment offering over the last three months of the period under review (other than seasonal work) have, however, been more limited. With the majority of vacancies offering in the district being seasonal vacancies on farms and in dairy factories and freezing-works, some difficulty is anticipated in finding between-season employment for a limited number of seasonal workers. As in most other districts, it has been difficult to find suitable employment for semi-fit persons. 468. There has been no female labour unemployed. A shortage of female labour has not been very marked. This is largely due to the comparatively limited manufacturing industries established in this district, and, in point of fact, no fresh vacancies for female labour in any industry had been notified during the last three months of the period. (а) Farming.—There was a fairly steady demand for farm workers up to the end of December, 1945, after which there was a marked decline in the number of vacancies offering, particularly on dairy-farms, where the vacancies fell away to nil with the falling-off of milk-supplies due to the abnormally dry season. The main demands were for single men, with their own dogs, as shepherds, and for scrub-cutters, of whom a considerable number were required. (б) Freezing-worlcs.—The staffing of the Waingawa freezing-works for the 1945-46 season presented some difficulties. The drought brought the season to a peak quickly while some key workers were still out shearing, so that the works remained somewhat short staffed for a period. Nevertheless, they were able to carry on satisfactorily. Continuation of the abnormally heavy killing season well beyond the usual period of peak activity necessitated the working of considerable overtime, as the unusually heavy demands for labour could not be fully satisfied. (c) Dairy Factories.—The staffing requirements were substantially met in all factories, though the general shortage of male labour in this district during the seasonal period required the majority of factories to work a forty-eight-hour week until the peak of activity was passed, when a forty-hour week was reverted to. (d) Returned Servicemen.—The placement of ex-servicemen has been proceeding most satisfactorily, and at 31st March, 1946, there were no returned servicemen enrolled as seeking employment. Lower Hutt District 469. This district, and the neighbouring district of Wellington, is suffering from one -of the most acute labour shortages in the Dominion. Notified vacancies for males exceed, on an average, the numbers of disengaged persons seeking employment by approximately 313 to 1. Those registering for work, whether skilled or unskilled, have been referred immediately to employment. Even the placement of semi-fit men has presented comparatively few difficulties. Due to the exceptionally rapid development of industrial activity during the past ten years, combined with the proposed establishment of a number

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