8.—6

IN 1) USTRIAL CONDITIONS. As was the case last year, there has been practically no unemployment. Trade has been brisk throughout the Dominion, and there has been a considerable shortage of men in many branches of industry. The question of meeting the requirements of the Dominion in this direction is receiving the attention of the Government. The shortage of labour and the increase in the cost of living were the causes of a number of industrial disputes during the year under review. In most cases the disputes were settled without much loss of time or output. The year was important in this connection, inasmuch as the currency of the awards and agreements for seamen and waterside workers and also for most of the coal-miners of the Dominion had expired. ' WORKERS' DWELLINGS. In addition to the completion of thirty-seven dwellings commenced in the previous year, twenty-eight new dwellings have been built, and eleven were also in course of erection on the 31st March, making the total number of workers' dwellings in the Dominion 629. The year's expenditure under this heading was £35,437. STATE SOCIAL INSURANCE SYSTEM. National Provident Fund. The progress of the fund has been maintained, and the general membership at the 31st March last numbered 10,143, with accumulated funds amounting to £135,000. Maternity benefits during the year 1916 totalled £3,776, claimed by 634 contributors. The contributors on active service at the end of last year numbered 2,117. One-half "the contributions of soldier contributors while on active service is being paid by the Government. This grant amounted to £5,739 in the year 1916-17. The branch of the fund's operations relating to local authorities' superannuation has received attention. Several local bodies have become contributors on behalf of their staffs under the special tables adopted by the National Provident Fund Board. The steps so far taken in connection with this important reform are such as to encourage the hope that a general scheme of superannuation will before long be in operation for local-authority employees. A system of maternity and annuity benefits for friendly societies under the amending legislation of last session is now in operation. Owing to the delay incidental to the inauguration of a new system the claims for maternity allowances chargeable to the vote for the last financial year did not reach the estimated expenditure. The allowances will, however, be carried forward and included in the current year's vote. For friendly-society maternity allowances I will ask the House to provide £22,000. Friendly Societies. A " Reinsurance Fund" has been established, and is being administered by the Minister' of Finance, the Minister of Friendly Societies, and the Registrar. This fund pools the whole of the death war risks on account of members on military service, the Government paying one-half the total premiums and the societies the other half, for the purpose of insuring each member as he joins the Expeditionary Forces. The amount of premiums and State subsidy held on account thereof amounted at the 31st March to £16,035 3s. 6d., insuring members for a total sum of £200,424. DEPARTMENT OF TOURIST AND HEALTH RESORTS. The progress shown by this Department in last year's Financial Statement has been continued. The direct revenue returns disclose an increase of £2,088 over last year, having risen from £31,048 to £33,136. There has been a considerable influx of travellers from America, and the Australian traffic has also been satisfactory considering the existing conditions.

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