H.—11 A.

1937. NEW ZEALAND.

DEPARTMENT OF LABOUR: EMPLOYMENT DIVISION. REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF LABOUR UPON ACTIVITIES AND PROCEEDINGS UNDER THE EMPLOYMENT PROMOTION ACT, 1936.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

REPORT. To the Hon. the Minister of Labour, Sir, — Department of Labour, Wellington, Ist October, 1937. I have the honour to present herewith for the information of His Excellency the GovernorGeneral the report upon the activities of the Employment Division of the Department in administering the Employment Promotion Act, 1936. This report, which is complementary with that submitted under my hand and dated Ist August, 1937, dealing with industrial and other matters, is prepared in compliance with the Labour Department Act, 1908, as amended by the Labour Department Amendment Act, 1936. The report covers the year Ist April, 1936, to 31st March, 1937, so far as financial statements are concerned, and the period Ist June, 1936, to 28th August, 1937, in respect of other data, except where otherwise indicated. I have, &c., J. S. Hunter, Secretary of Labour.

INTRODUCTION. In this report it is not intended to traverse at length the various schemes by medium of which relief is afforded to persons who are unable to gain a livelihood from their own efforts. The report has been designed rather to clearly outline the alterations of policy effected by the present administration, and a concomitant review of the relative scheme has been presented only where such is necessary to the comprehension of the nature of any particular measure. It is, of course, fitting that prominence should be given to the improvements in relief measures which have been brought into being over the past twenty months. Although the previous report upon unemployment relief covered a period up to May, 1936, it is necessary to look back beyond that date for the reason that the Unemployment Board, although abolished on 31st May, 1936, virtually ceased to function as a policy-forming body from November, 1935. The report presented last year on behalf of the late Board accordingly contained statistical data only, and the record of changes over the months from November, 1935, to May, 1936, is therefore incorporated in this statement.

I—H. 11a.