H—lB

proposed to establish additional painting units at Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch, and to open new centres for painting instruction at Hamilton, Palmerston North, and Dunedin ; also to establish bricklaying and plastering centres at Dunedin. Perhaps the best indications of the value of the training given in the Board's centres are found, firstly, in the numbers of ex-servicemen now applying for training (many of whom are applying as a result of having compared the types of training available), and, secondly in the "proven acceptability to employers of those who have completed their training. As previously reported, a survey of employers' opinions of their ex-servicemen employees who had completed their training in the Board's carpentry centres (when the course was for one year only) showed that just on 95 per cent, of the trainees were giving entire satisfaction. As the training period has since been extended to two years (mainly for the purpose of developing confidence and speed) it is anticipated that this high degree of satisfaction will be enhanced. Again, the degree of co-operation received from all sections of each trade may be taken as an indication of their acceptance of the training method as being undoubtedly efficient. The high quality of the workmanship found in the houses constructed by the trainees has been the subject of frequent favourable comment by builders, tradesmen, and Housing Department Inspectors alike. 5. At peak operations the trainees will number approximately 2,000 in carpentry, plus approximately 500 in the ancillary trades. The first graduates from the extended two-year carpentry course completed their training in April of this year, and it is satisfactory to know that a keen demand exists for their services. 6. In September of last year the training of roof-tilers was discontinued. The Koof-tilers' Guild intimated that its members preferred to train their own tilers, and the school was closed after the third course had completed training. Full employment was promised to all trainees by the Guild, and a survey lately completed disclosed that the majority trained under the scheme were giving every satisfaction and that their standard of training had been high. (6) Building of State Houses by Trainees Since the modest beginning in 1942 the output of State houses built by trainees (during the course of their training) has steadily increased to the extent that the Department is now one of the biggest contractors for State houses in the Dominion. The number of completed units has increased from 19 in 1942 to 285 in 1945, and it is estimated that by 1947 some 1,400 houses will be built by trainees during that year. (c) Maori Ex-servicemen Pre-entry Educational Classes for Maori Ex-servicemen. —Provision has been made for pre-entry classes for Maori ex-servicemen wishing to enter the Board's training centres. Because of reduced educational opportunities, some applicants were found to be lacking in schooling, though otherwise quite suitable, and it was considered desirable to institute classes in trade calculations in order to bring them up to the required entry standard. Those trained under the scheme have shown that they are capable of becoming expert tradesmen and contributing materially to the urgent housing needs of the Maori race.

(d) Administration Table VII of the Appendix to this report shows the number of "A" Class trade trainees as at 31st March, 1946. A comparison with the relative figures as at 31st March, 1945, is as follows :

10

As at 31st March, Increase for Year. 1940. 1945. In training Completed training and placed 1,440 761 542 616 898 145 Totals 2,201 1,158 1,043