H.—35.

On the approach of the 1935 winter the Board decided to extend the system of ration orders to some fourteen secondary centres, with the object of facilitating the relief of distress caused by unemployment during the winter period. The cost of foodstuffs distributed through the rationing system over the last three years is as follows, — Financial Year Cost. ended £ 31st March, 1933 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 38,023 31st March, 1934 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 49,669 31st March, 1935 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 38,641 Total .. .. .. .. .. .. .. £126,333 (c) General. Additional to the items of supplementary relief in kind, as mentioned above, the Board, prior to 1935, purchased supplies of mutton and beef at very satisfactory prices. This meat was stored at various freezing-works and sold at half cost price or less to voluntary relief organizations, which in their turn retailed the meat to registered and eligible unemployed at a nominal charge, and in some instances distributed the meat gratis. After these stocks of meat were "exhausted the Board decided not to make any more purchases, but instead to subsidize at the rate of l|d. per pound meat distributed by approved relief organizations. Upon satisfactory evidence that meat has been given or sold to registered and eligible unemployed or their bona fide dependants the. Board's subsidy may be claimed by the relief committee or organization concerned. In some of the larger centres encouragement is given towards the growing of vegetables in community plots. A certain number of relief workers are detailed to tend these plots and the resultant produce is made available to registered unemployed. Relief labour is also provided for boot-repair depots and for relief depots generally. The Unemployment Board recognizes and appreciates the excellent work done by voluntary relief organizations and charitable institutions during the present period of large-scale unemployment. Without the help afforded in this manner, and as a complement to the Board's efforts to minimize distress as far as possible, the plight of relief applicants generally would undoubtedly have been much more serious. The total cost to the Unemployment Fund of free boots, blankets, and other relief in kind during the financial year ended 31st March, 1935, was £73,885. UNEMPLOYED WOMEN AND GIRLS. In order to safeguard the welfare of unemployed women and girls the Board has maintained its policy of subsidizing the work of the local Women's Unemployment Committees, relying for guidance on the advice of the Women's Advisory Committee, which acts as a link between the Board and the local Women's Committees. Reports indicate that the problem of unemployed women and girls is practically non-existent except in the main centres, where it is chiefly confined to women of advanced years, inefficient and untrained workers, and special problem cases. During the financial year ended 31st March, 1935, the funds of the Women's Unemployment Committees were subsidized to the extent of £10,497. A statistical summary of the registrations, &c., in the four main centres for the month of March, 1935, is as follows :— Previous Occupations. Registrations. Previous Occupations. Registrations. Office .. .. .. 14 Housemaid and waitress . . 18 Shop . . .. 20 Milliner . . .. . . 4 Factory . . .. 50 Domestic duties ' .. .. 182 Dressmaker and tailoress .. 19 Trained nurse .. .. 7 Total .. .. 329 Cook-general .. .. 15 Age Groups. Registrations. Age Groups. Registrations. Sixteen to twenty years . . 131 Thirty-one to forty years .. 44 Twenty - one to twenty - five Over forty years .. .. 76 years .. .. .. 45 Twenty-six to thirty years .. 33 Total .. .. 329 Very good service has been rendered by the local Women's Unemployment Committees in providing training, occupation, and relief assistance for unemployed women and girls, and the Unemployment Board greatly appreciates the valuable, assistance given on a voluntary basis by members of these committees.

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