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523. The information in these returns will fall broadly under the following main headings : Monthly pay-roll strength. Wages pay-out for one week in each month. Particulars of labour content by juveniles and adults and by skills. Particulars of labour inflows and vacancies. Employers comments and forecasts. While the above information is required regularly from employers in the classes specified, power is given to the Director of Employment to require any or all employers at any time to furnish such information as he considers necessary in relation to the following matters : (а) The numbers and classes of workers engaged or likely to be engaged by the employer during any specified period or periods or on any specified date or dates. (б) The numbers and classes of workers whose employment has been terminated or is likely to be terminated during any specified period or periods or on any specified date or dates. (c) The numbers and classes of workers in the employment of the employer during any specified period or periods or on any specified date or dates. (d) The amount of wages (including or showing separately overtime, bonus, and other payments) paid by the employer during any specified period or periods. (e) The accommodation or transport of workers. (/) The nature and availability of employment. 524. In the special case where the information required by the Director concerns any subsidy or other moneys paid by the Crown to any employer or other persons for the purposes of the Act, he is given the further power to conduct an audit. 525. Certain industries, particularly farming, do not lend themselves to the type of return provided for general industries, building and construction, and seasonal industries, and in respect of industries not thus specifically covered by half-yearly or monthly returns alternative means of obtaining the necessary employment information will be adopted. In the case of farming employment, information was formerly included on the annual returns made to the Government Statistician, and steps are in train to have this information reinstated. SECTION VII.—ESTABLISHMENT OF A NATIONAL EMPLOYMENT SERVICE 526. In accordance with the requirements of the Employment Act, 1945, the National Employment Service was set up to commence its activities on Ist April, 1946. 527. Prior to that date the National Service Department had already undertaken much of the preliminary work in preparing the field for the new Department. While the wartime administration had almost reached the end of its activities it had built up an administrative framework which in two respects could be adapted with value. In the first place, it had well-established district offices with staff possessed of excellent industrial contacts, and already largely reoriented to the work of voluntary placement in connection with ex-servicemen. Subject to a number of necessary changes and adjustments in personnel, a sound framework of district organization therefore existed and was rapidly being converted to the' new basis and outlook required. In the second place, the National Service Department had already built up comprehensive information on industries in all its districts, and on the statistical and research side already had a nucleus of staff familiar with the labour problems, position, and background of New Zealand industries. Here again there were useful foundations which could with advantage be used for the new administration. The new Department would, however, require a smaller staff, and to some extent a staff with different qualifications. By Ist April staffing readjustments had been largely completed, staff-training measures had been formulated, and the National Employment Service was ready to take up the new activities, operating through a Head Office under a Director of Employment and with twenty-five district offices, each controlled by a District Employment Officer.

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