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dependants or over. During the six months immediately preceding registration 1,134 men had been unemployed for under six weeks, while 2,679 had been out of work for six weeks or over. Of the latter, 218.had five dependants or over. The age-distribution was : Under 25 years of age, 868 ; 25-44 years, 1,810 ; 45-64 years, 1,078 ; and 65 years and over, 57. The classification according to birthplace shows that 2,289 men were born in New Zealand, while 1,524 were born outside New Zealand. Of the latter 73 had been less than twelve months resident in New Zealand, while 1,394 were of two years' residence or over. There were 415 men fitted for light work only, as compared with 3,398 who registered as fitted for heavy work. Classifying the men according to the period on the register, it that 2,477 had been registered for less than three months, 797 for three months but under twelve months, and 539 for twelve months and over. In this connection it is to be noted that applicants desiring to be considered for employment .are required to renew their applications fortnightly, and those not doing so are struck ofl the register. For the classification in this table applicants off the register for over three months are treated as new registrations on next application ; persons (whether or not they were temporarily or intermittently employed) renewing their applications at shorter intervals than three months are regarded as continuously on the register. Graphs E and F have been prepared to show the analysis of the unemployed each month since June, 1928, and from these the variations that have taken place each month can be followed. In view of the large number (2,679 out of 3,896, or 68-76 per cent, of the total on the register) who had been unemployed for six weeks and over, the Committee had specially compiled Table XIV, giving a classification according to the duration of unemployment during the six months immediately preceding registration, conjugal condition, and age. From this it is seen that a large number—49l, or 13 per cent, of the total classified —had been out of work for twenty-four weeks and over. On the other hand, 823, or 22 per cent., had lost only four weeks or less in the six months. The average unemployment per man during the six months works out at eleven weeks. Taking the single and married men separately, the incidence of unemployment seems to have fallen evenly, the average being also eleven weeks in each case. Taking age into consideration, however, it is seen that in the case of married men 756, or 37 per cent., of the total married men were 45 years of age or over, while in the case of single men only 357, or 20 per cent., were over 45 years of age. The greater mobility of the single man is no doubt helpful in the search for work. The average unemployment for each agegroup is informative as indicating the handicap of increasing years ; the figures are —under 25 years, 10 weeks ; 25 to 44 years, 10 weeks.; 45 to 64 years, 13 weeks ; 65 years and over, 15 weeks. It is noted also that a greater proportion of the men over 45 years of age had been out of employment for twenty-four weeks and over tha,n of men under 45 years of age ; the percentages being—under 45 years, 11 per cent.; over 45 years, 18 per cent. The Committee recognize that those on relief works are also part of the unemployed, but unfortunately statistics of their composition are available in regard to them only for July, 1928. Those on relief works at that date are analysed in Tables XV, XVI, XVII, XVIII, and XIX. The total number on relief works at that time was 3,922, but owing to some being engaged on remote works full data was obtained in respect of only 2,749. Of the 2,749 men dealt with in the classifications, 2,148, or 78 per cent., described themselves as labourers ; there being a marked drop to the next highest groups, which were—Drivers, 103 ; farm hands, 64 ; hotel workers, 38 ; carpenters,. 36 ; and clerical workers, 35. The remainder were scattered over a wide range of occupations. There were 1,123 single and 1,626 married men in the cases dealt with. A total of 854, or 76 per cent., of the single men had no dependants at all, while of the married men, 287 had one dependant; 412, two dependants ; 360, three dependants ; 233, four dependants ; and 285, five dependants or over. The age-distribution table shows that 497 of the men were under 25 years of age ; 1,349 were between the ages of 25 and 44 years ; 875 between 45 and 64 years ; and 28 aged 65 years or over. Practically all the men were fit for heavy work, only 106 of the 2,749 being fit for light work only. The classification according to the period on register reveals the fact that 1,722 men have been on the register for under three months, 951 for three months or under twelve months, and 76 for twelve months or over. The period on register includes the time they have been on relief works. Of the 2,749 men 1,609 were New-Zealand-born. Very few relief workers were recent arrivals, only 55 of the total being of under twelve months' residence in the country. The total number of recorded cases of unemployment on the 9th July, 1928 (counting relief workers as unemployed) was 7,075. Of this number particulars as to unemployment were available for 5,846, and it is noted that of these only 131 had been on the register for a period of twelve months or over (76 being relief workers and 55 unplaced). The number of relief workers in the class " twelve months or over " represents only 3 per cent, of the total number on such works. The analysis of those on relief works is shown on Graph C for comparison with Graphs E and F. In considering the various factors disclosed by the analysis given in the tables, the Committee were concerned at the numbers on the Unemployed Registers who were still under twenty-five years of age, and arranged for a special investigation to be made for these in regard to their schooling, employment since leaving school, &c. This inquiry was made in regard to all persons under 25 years of age applying for registration during the two weeks ended 26th July, 1929, the total number of cases being 492. The results of the inquiry may be summarized as follows : — The total number of cases under 25 years of age investigated was 492 ; of these 85 received post-primary education, or 17-3 per cent, of the total. Of the 85 receiving post-primary schooling 47 attended non-technical secondary schools. 4

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