3

H.—3o

The following table shows the number af men placed in the various groups of industry in each of the four districts :—

The chart appearing below shows that an increasing number of men have been placed in employment each month since the inception of the Repatriation Department—that the number of unemployed is not increasing and actually represents little more than one week's placings.

In the Commonwealth journal Repatriation of the 25th May, 1919, the .Minister of Repatriation, Senator Millen, reviews the unemployment position in Australia, and states that out of a total of 1.14,600 men returned up to the 28th February last. 5,000 (436 per cent.) were receiving sustenance at that date whilst awaiting employment. Senator Millen said that "he was particularly gratified at I his stale of affairs, and he confidently stated that no other country could show such a result in connection with its repatriation scheme." He mentioned further that during the five months following the Armistice the British Government had paid £14,300,000 in unemployment sustenance. So far as New Zealand is concerned, however, a much more satisfactory position is disclosed, for at the present time (20th August) the number of men on the unemployment sustenance list for the whole of the Dominion is only seventeen out of a total of 06,809 returned to date. Unemployment sustenance (inclusive of pension) is paid on the following basis: Soldier, £'1 2s. per week; -wife, 10s. per week; children (not exceeding four), 3s. 6d. per week each. A widower with children is entitled to sustenance allowance as though his wife were living. Transportation and Medical Fees. — The Department pays transportation of soldiers proceeding to employment, &c, and medical fees of those examined for appointment to the Public Service, the payments to date under these headings being £1,750.

Group. Auckland. Wellington. Canterbury, j Otago. Total. I ! ! 1. Wood, furniture, timber, &c. 2. Engineers, metal-workers 3. Food, tobacco, &c. . . 4. Clothing, boots, &c. 5. Books, printing, &c. 6. Other manufacturing 7. Building 8. Mining, quarrying, &c. 9. Rail and tram services . . ... 10. Other land transport 11. Shipping, wharf labour, &c. 12. Pastoral, agriculture, &c. 13. Domestic, hotels, &c. 14. General labour, and miscellaneous 15. Clerical 16. Government Totals]' 121 202 125 141 249 131 71 148 78 77 126 73 42 62 55 80 70 70 67 72 82 43 82 81 67 150 91 78 147 100 50 66 ! 64 222 451 227 73 180 101 424 895 427 145 303 166 156 464 163 1,857 3,667 2,034 76 101 49 67 30 35 39 38 47 47 33 139 62 285 1.18 143 1,309 f f ~ 524 622 346 343 189 255 260 244 355 372 213 1,039 416 2,031 732 926 8,867