H.—lla

SCHEME No. 4f. This scheme provides subsidies for twelve months on the basis of £1 10s. per week for the first six months and 15s. per Week for the second six months in respect of the employment of inexperienced labour on operational farm work. In addition, a house allowance of £1 per week is payable in the case of married workers, whether experienced or inexperienced, where married accommodation is not available and the worker is consequently required to be separated from his wife and family. Up to the 4th April, 1942, a total of 1,283 inexperienced farm hands had been placed under this scheme for training, and in an additional 242 cases house allowance had been paid. Of the number placed only 70 were still employed at the 4th April, and this number comprised the following Single men on dairy-farms .. .. .. .. .. 17 Single men on sheep-farms .. .. .. .. .. 8 Married men on dairy-farms .. .. .. .. . . 17 Married men on sheep-farms .. . . .. .. .. 14 Total number on subsidy .. .. .. .. .. .. 56 House allowance (married men) .. .. .. .. .. .. 14 SCHEME No. 13. 1 70 This scheme provides for the full-time employment at award rates with local bodies and other employing authorities of registered and eligible men. The steady decrease in the figures showing the number of men employed under this scheme reflects the ever-increasing demand by private industry for labour. It is known that a considerable number of those drawn from Scheme No. 13 for private work could not in normal times obtain such employment in the open market, but under present conditions employers generally will accept an inferior type of labour. The large majority of the 2,092 men still remaining under the scheme at the 4th April are definitely unfit and suitable for only the lightest type of work. Included in this number are : — With public works .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 106 On holiday pay . . . . . . .. . . .. .. 94 On rabbit-extermination .. .. .. .. .. .. 225 On ordinary Scheme No. 13 .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,667 Total .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 2,092 The work upon which these men are engaged is as follows : — Streets, roads, and reserves .. .. .. .. .. 1,392 Drainage .. . . .. . . .. .. .. .. 24 River-protection .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 8 Sewerage and water-supply schemes .. .. .. .. .. 6 School-ground improvements .. .. .. .. .. 72 Public works . . . . .. .. .. . . . . 30 Land-development .. . . . . .. . . . . .. 30 Development of flax industry .. .. .. .. .. 76 Produce-growing and pig-raising .. .. .. .. .. 66 Rabbiting .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 225 Defence works .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 71 Recovery of essential war materials . . . . .. .. . . 21 Miscellaneous .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 71 Total .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 2,092 Those shown as employed on recovery of essential war materials are engaged on the demolition of the s.s. " Port Bowen," s.s. " Mokoia," the tug " Mana," and recovery of the Waipori pipe-line. The following table shows the number in age-groups of those employed under ordinary Scheme No. 13, and indicates that they are mainly men getting on in years : — A S e - Number. P f" Age " Number. P f" group. eentage. group. centage. 20-24 .. ..10 = 0-6 50-54 .. ..273 = 16-4 25-29 .. ..29 = 1-8 55-59 .. .. 511 = 30-6 30-34 .. .. 46 = 2-7 60 years and over .. 418 = 25-1 35-39 .. ..88 = 5-3 40-44 .. .. 127 = 7-6 1,667 100 45-49 .. ..165 = 9-9 I All these men are in varying stages of unfitness for normal work, while 72 per cent, are over fifty years of age and 89 per cent, are over forty years of age. Those sixty years of age or over comprise mainly men whose wives are not yet eligible to receive age-benefit. The work classification of these 1,667 men is as indicated hereunder : — Number. Peroentage. Class 1 : Pit for heavy local or distant work .. .. 42 = 2-5 Class 2 : Fit for heavy but exempt from distant work .. 274 = 16-5 Class 3 : Fit for manual work but not of a heavy nature .. 1,274 = 76-4 Class 4 : Unfit or fit for the very lightest of work only .. 77 = 4-6 1,667 = 100 Persistent endeavours are being maintained to place in private employment all men employed under Scheme No. 13. Rabbit-extermination. In order to encourage the destruction of rabbits during the summer months when normal rabbiting activities are usually suspended, the major rabbit-extermination scheme was recommenced from 15th September, 1941, with subsidy on the basis of £3 10s. per week for registered and eligible men and £3 per week for men specially registered on the recommendation of the Stock Inspector. The scheme covered the employment of men by both Rabbit Boards and individual farmers. With individual farmers the scheme ceased on 31st March, 1942, and with Rabbit Boards will cease on the 30th April, 1942. The greatest number of men employed under this scheme was 489 in the week ended 7th March, 1942, and as at the 4th April, 225 men were engaged.

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