H.—35.

It will be observed from the table published above that the weekly average numbers of unfilled applications on the employment registers has varied, since 1921, between 426 (in 1925) and 5,055 (in 1930). Evidence that the unplaced registrations in the years prior to 1930 formed only a portion of the total unemployed is revealed by the 1926 census inquiry. On the date of the census (20th April, 1926) there were 10,694 males unemployed, while the unplaced registrations on the 19th April of that year totalled only 571. A detailed statement showing the number of unfilled applications on the registers of the employment bureaux week by week since the beginning of the year 1926 is contained in Table I of the appendix to this report. A progressive upward tendency is revealed by these weekly figures, comparisons between approximately similar dates in one year and the immediately succeeding year almost invariably showing an increase. The seasonal ebb and flow of unemployment is well illustrated by this table, a notable exception to the seasonal fluctuation being recorded in October, 1929, when, following on the announcement by the Government that work would be found for able-bodied men registered at the bureaux, the unfilled registrations increased from 2,466 on the 30th September of that year to 4,924 on the 7th October and further to 6,264 on the 14th October. Successive decreases in succeeding weeks brought the total down to 1,242 on. the 30th December of that year. The year 1930 saw a rapid rise in the registrations at the labour bureaux. The average of the weekly totals of unfilled applications for each of the months of that year showed progressive increases, the actual figures being : — January .. .. .. 2,345 July .. .. .. 5,465 February . . .. .. 2,442 August .. .. .. 5, 455 March .. .. ..2,834 September .. '.. 5,765 April .. .. .. 3,382 October .. .. .. 6,038 May .. .. .. 4,519 November.. .. .. 6,671 June .. .. .. 5,306 December .. .. 9,615 The rapid increase in the number of registered unemployed towards the end of the year made it imperative that the Board immediately upon commencing its sittings on the 25th November, 1930, should devise schemes for the relief of the position before taking time to consider its permanent policy. Consequent on the pronouncement of the Board's schemes for the provision of immediate employment a sudden increase in registrations took place, and, despite the placement of a large number of men in various works subsidized by the Board, the number of unplaced applicants on the registers has continued to increase. The following table shows the registrations, placements, the numbers remaining on the registers, and the number of registered unemployed obtaining relief under Schemes 2 and 5 of the Unemployment Board : —

Registered Unemployed, October, 1930, to March, 1931.

Note. —Since the 16th February the numbers temporarily employed on Schemes 2 and 5 of the Unemployment Board are shown. These men, though now partially employed, are still included as registered unemployed.

35

, T , . t. t , T , j. Number of Number of New Number of Wpcktprprl and Renewed Placements Number of ; .... ,, Applications for through the Registered ,y nem P Io y f u ™^ Weekended Employment Bureaux Unemployed at Relief I otally , ' ■. J ,, , . ,, it. i i A? i under Schemes Unemployed, during the during the End of Week. *> i K * j ,„ 6 , , T7 & , z and 5 ot Week. Week. the Board | 1930. 6th October .. .. 1,451 262 6,052 .. 6,052 13th „ .. .. 1,508 277 6,028 .. 6,028 20th „ .. .. 1,603 296 6,055 .. 6,055 27th „ .. .. 1,272 271 6,018 .. 6,018 3rd November .. .. 1,716 372 6,080 .. 6,080 10th „ .. .. 1,813 294 6,432 .. 6,432 17th „ .. .. 1,901 294 6,768 .. 6,768 24th „ .. .. 2,202 297 7,402 .. 7,402 1st December .. .. 2,455 447 8,038 .. 8,038 8th „ .. .. 3,788 781 9,630 .. 9,630 15th „ .. .. 4,433 1,083 11,442 .. 11,442 22nd „ .. .. 3,152 1,219 11,371 .. 11,371 29th „ .. .. 3,237 4,412 7,596 ... 7,596 1931. 5th January .. .. 4,938 1,006 8,703 .. 8,703 12th „ .. .. 6,335 1,465 12,230 .. 12,230 19th „ .. .. 5,766 1,365 14,875 .. 14.875 26th „ .. .. 5,779 1,594 16,607 .. 16,607 2nd February .. .. 4,935 1,543 17,556 .. 17,556 9th ,. .. .. 5,773 3,613 17,002 .. 17,002 16th „ .. .. 6,138 1.180 22,842 7,226 15,616 23rd „ .. .. 8,166 214 27,662 10,978 16,684 2nd March .. .. 6,066 291 29,434 12,119 17,315 9th „ .. .. 5,476 299 29,941 13,096 16,845 16th „ .. .. 5,704 366 31,678 16,236 15,442 23rd „ .. .. 5,402 369 33,946 21,618 12,328 30th „ .. .. 7,669 272 38,028 24,941 13,087 i