H.—35.

In 1931 the peak figure of 51,408 was recorded in the first week of October, and this experience has been more or less repeated this year, with the maximum number of registered unemployed standing at 56,498 in the second week of September. At this time of the year a certain amount of allowance must be made for re-registration of men who have completed engagements for various periods on subsidized farm work under Scheme 4a, owing to restrictions imposed by the Board 011 the class of work applicable in view of the approach of normal seasonal activity. Mention has been made of the number of " unemployables " and other men included in registrations of unemployed, but not considered to be eligible for relief from the Unemployment I und. Since October, 1931, returns have been obtained from employment bureaux, with the object of dissecting the registrations at the end of each month according to whether or not the men concerned received any relief work 011 a rationed basis during the month ; and the results from October, 1931, to September, 1932, inclusive, for relief work given under Scheme 5, are tabulated hereunder : —

Approximate Numbers of Registered Unemployed at End of Month according to Eligibility for Relief under Scheme No. 5.

It will be seen that there is always a fair proportion of the registered unemployed engaged on relief work, of which a considerable number represents new registrations or re-registrations. In regard to the men excluded from awards of relief owing to doubtful eligibility, these include those who would perhaps have been granted some assistance from the Fund if sufficient finance had been available, but whose relative degree of necessity was hardly sufficient to warrant their participation in relief under prevailing conditions.

10

October, November, December, January, February, March, 1931. 1031. 1931.» 1032. 1932. 1932. <a o> ā — |T"~ " Classification. . u gg u § So £ flo S flo £ So £ go £ go a gH g gH g oH g g oH S oH § ih<H S pi §3«« p SB's I £° H S° PH° fc ph° & * Eligible men who were receiv- 42,500 84-5 40,400 85-1 40,300 89-4 38,800 84-9 37,450 84-9 38,400 84-6 insf relief Registered less than fourteen 2,300 4-6 2,200 4-6 1,650 3*7 2,250 4*9 2,300 5*2 2,600 5-7 Receiving no relief because of 4,500 8*9 4,000 8*4 2,500 5-5 4,000 8*8 3,750 8-5 3,550 7 • 8 .. 1,000 2-0 900 ' 1-9 650 1-4 050 1-4 600 1-4 850 1-9 Total registered unemployed 50,300100-0 47,500100-0 45,100100-0 45,700100-0 44,100100-0 45,400100-0

Anrii Mav, June, July, August, September, 1982. 1932. 1932. 1932. 1932. 1932. Classification. . 15 . J" ■ '|| y S Sj fS 8 || I IS ! SH g f |S ■§ $H s £H I I a? g fa s a* Eligible men who were receiv- 40,BOO 81*4 45,000 84-1 46,850 86*3 49.100 88*0 50,450 89*6 50,0o0 89 9 ins relief Registered less than fourteen 4,150 8-3 3,350 6-3 2,900 5-3 3,100 5-6 2,500 4-4 2,250 4-0 Receiving no relief because of 3,550 7-1 3,600 6-7 3,200 5-9 2,750 4-9 2,350 4-2 2,500 4-5 .. 1,600 3-2 1,550 2-9 1,350 2-5 850 1-5 .1,000 1-8 900 1-6 Total registered unemployed 50,100 100-0 53,500100-0 54,300100-0 55,800100-0 56,300100-0 55,700100-0 * The proportions at the end of this month were affected by the Board's special grant for Christmas relief, which was largely distributed amongst those who had received no other relief daring the month.