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Unemployment. 1. We are agreed that at present the problem of unemployment in the Dominion is acute, and it is our opinion that the Government must provide out of the Consolidated Fund such sums as are necessary to cope with the situation. 2. Exact information is not available to enable us to formulate a permanent scheme to deal with the recurrent problem of seasonal and periodic unemployment. We therefore recommend that the Government Statistical Department should forthwith concentrate upon the collection and compilation of accurate data, with the object of determining, as far as possible : — (i) The causes and the volume of periodic and seasonal unemployment; and (ii) The possibility of organizing the Dominion labour demand so as to minimize the effect of seasonal conditions on the regularity of employment. 3. Careful investigation should also be made to decide the most suitable form of productive work under State control which could absorb from time to time labour temporarily not required in industry. 4. For the purpose of this investigation, and to assist in the administration of temporary measures, we recommend the Government to appoint immediately a committee of three, consisting of a Government representative and one representative each of employers and workers. 5. The functions of this committee should be — (a) To analyse and consider the detailed statistical data as to the supply of, and demand for, employment in the various industries throughout the year ; (b) To conduct special inquiries as to the incidence and causation of unemployment in the various industries ; (c) To co-operate with private employers, Government Departments, and local authorities in an endeavour to provide avenues of employment, and to regulate the demand for labour in connection with temporary measures taken by the Government; (cl) To co-operate with the Immigration Department with respect to the employment of immigrants ; and (e) To regularly furnish detailed information as to the trend of employment. This sub-committee urges the Government to shape the education system in the direction of encouraging as many boys as possible to take up farming occupations rather than professional and commercial vocations ; this to apply to city, town, and country schools. This sub-committee is of the opinion that under the present system there are not sufficient openings for boys educated in cities and towns, and that farming presents an almost unlimited scope for their employment, while positions in the town industries are limited. The workers' representatives on the sub-committee add the following addendum : — That the committee referred to in clause 4 should consist of five members instead of three (one Government representative and two representatives each of employers and workers), and that a scheme of unemployment insurance should be instituted. Immigration. While fully recognizing our own responsibilities, in common with those of all other countries within the British Empire, to co-operate in solving the problems of redistribution of population, this subcommittee recommends — 1. The strictest possible supervision of the nomination system for all classes of migrants, both as regards the immigrant and the ability and capacity of the nominators to perform their obligations. 2. That there should be an efficient medical examination of all migrants, assisted or otherwise, and that this examination should take place at the port of embarkation by medical officers appointed by the New Zealand Government. 3. That immigration should be regulated in accordance with the state of the labour-market in New Zealand, and with due regard to the ability of the Dominion to absorb the immigrants in employment. ' . 4. That the Immigration Department be given control of health examination and financial qualifications of juvenile and adult immigrants, whether assisted or otherwise. Workers' Compensation Act. 1. That insurance be compulsory, subject to the exception where an employer can satisfy a competent authority that either by a mutual insurance scheme or from his own resources the worker is adequately covered. 2. That it is advisable that the Government should carefully investigate the principles, working, and cost of the Ontario system of workmen's compensation, with a view to determining, having regard to New Zealand conditions, what, if any, of its provisions might with advantage be adopted in the Dominion ; and that in any case it is desirable that medical, surgical, and hospital services necessary as a result of the injury, and for the rehabilitation of the injured worker, should be provided for : Provided always that whatever scheme of insurance is adopted it shall cover all classes of workers at present covered by the New Zealand Act.

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