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492. Special surveys continued to be necessary each, year to measure the requirements and uptake of the season in butter and cheese factories and in freezing-works, and again to maintain an adequate correlation between the putting-off of labour at the end of the season and the diversion of that labour to other important work. Similarly, special information regarding labour requirements for shearing, harvesting, fruit-picking, tobacco-growing, and potato-digging was compiled in those districts particularly affected. 493. Towards the end of 1943 (when the need for a further comb-out of men for overseas service on the one hand and the question of the release of men from home defence to industry on the other required particularly accurate information on the manpower position in a number of industries) a unit-by-unit resurvey of the labour content of a number of industries was undertaken -to show in each case the composition and skills of the existing labour force, its liability or otherwise for overseas service, the number of staff already in the Forces, and other relevant particulars necessary for planning either the call-up of further men for military service or the redistribution to industry of men coming out of the Forces. 494. Perhaps the most extensive survey carried out during this period, however, was the detailed survey of secondary towns with populations of 2,000 and over, made with a view to obtaining some indication of the availability of labour, male and female, in such towns and the possibility of encouraging a decentralizing of industry to them. The detailed information obtained covered the following points : (а) Population within daily working reach of the town. (б) School rolls, as being an indication of the numbers of young persons annually seeking employment. (c) A description of the activities of the surrounding district, road and rail contacts, and other information relevant to securing a broad background. (d) A list of all local industries, showing the number of concerns in each category and the numbers of males and females employed and the totals of males and females employed in the town. (e) A statement showing the availability of labour, both male and female, and covering types, as well as numbers, of persons available. (/) Comments on the seasonal fluctuations in employment and other local factors bearing upon the availability of labour for new industries. This survey put the Department in a position to give the fullest possible assistance towards the establishing of industries in centres where there was reasonable prospect of securing sufficient labour. (iv) Special Surveys since Ist April, 1945 495. Secondary Towns.—Subsequent to the survey made during the previous year of secondary towns of populations of 2,000 and over a survey was made of the smaller towns with populations between 1,000 and 2,000. Particulars similar to those obtained for towns of 2,000 and more were obtained for those towns covered by this survey. These two surveys made are invaluable in helping to determine the reserve of male and female labour for expanding or declining industries, and the potential reserve available by diversion of labour. 496. Clothing Industry.—ln July, 1945, a survey was made of the labour content of the clothing-manufacturing industry through the four Man-power Utilization Committees at Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin to show the division of labour between various classes of production with a view to balancing up the labour force engaged on garments in critical supply. 497. Seasonal Industry.—A further survey of the estimated peak labour force and the unsatisfied labour requirements of butter and cheese factories and freezingworks was also made for the 1945-46 season.

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