H.—llA

Reports received from Stock Inspectors of the Department of Agriculture concerning this scheme show the following position up to 31st March : — tv ~ , Men employed. Babbits destroyed. XT r)l ?rf ot - 35 56,547 Hamilton .. •• •• •• " ?o Wellington J3 S.7 1 ™ 7 :: :: :: :: :: :: 618 1,067,664 These figures do not take into account the considerable numbers of rabbits which have been destroyed by means of fumigation and pollard poisoning. SCHEME No. 16. Subsidized Apprentices in Building Trade. Since this scheme commenced in September, 1937, some 631 apprentices and 128 trainees have been placed, the position regarding these contracts on the 4th April, 1942, being as follows . : - j r~

SCHEME No. 16a. Subsidized Workers in Boot-manufacturing Industry. A total of 23 men have been engaged under this scheme since its commencement in August, 1939, the position concerning these contracts at the 4th April, 1942, being as follows . Contracts in operation .. • • • • • • • ■ 19 Contracts terminated .. • • ■ • • • • • Contracts expired . • • • ■ ■ • • • * 23 STATE PLACEMENT SERVICE. Last year's report referred to the difficulties faced by the Service in attempting to meet the requirements of the wartime labour market. As was to be expected, these difficulties have been further accentuated during the twelve months ended 31st March, 1942, and recourse to special powers for the redirection of labour into essential industries has been a logical development from the increasing difficulty in obtaining labour for works of extreme national importance. Notwithstanding the partial easing of labour difficulties in consequence of emergency powers for the redirection of labour, there still remain shortages of workers m essential industry, and any shortage therein must be considered serious. All possible effort to relieve the position is being continued _ The use of female and youth labour, as well as the services of semi-fit and elderly male adults, is a trend which has been considerably accelerated in the period under review. The extent to winch semi-fit and elderly male workers, not generally successful in obtaining continuous employment have been absorbed into employment under the stress of war conditions is illustrated by the fact that on the register of the State Placement Service as at the 31st March of this year current enrolments were only 1,836 men fit solely for light work and 261 regarded as unacceptable to industry, whereas at the 31st March, 1941, the corresponding figures were 2,901 and 377. PLACEMENT SERVICE STATISTICS. On the 31st March, 1942, there were 4,513 males and 272 females enrolled for employment with the State Placement Service. The contraction in the numbers of both classes of placement since the same date in 1941 is indicated by the corresponding figures of males 9,44- and females 389. The following table illustrates the industrial fitness of enrolments current with the Placement Service as at the 31st March, of this yeai . • — ' f i i. _ r ..

4

Carpenters. — — Bricklayers. Total. Apprentices. | Trainees. (a) Contracts in operation .. . • ■ • 4® j '' (b) Contracts suspended .. • ■ ■ • 268 (c) Contracts terminated .. •• •• 9nr (d) Contracts completed .. • • ■ • 166 (e) Contracts cancelled .. • • • • 0 Totals .. • • • • 607 128 24 759 Of the 47 contracts still in operation, 45 are in their third year and two in the second year.

Classification. Males - . ® emales " TotaL Verified first class, fit, and prepared to travel to distant employment .. 26 2 28 Verified first class, fit, but not prepared to travel •• Verified second class, fit, and prepared to travel to distant employment .. 1. ■ • Verified second class, fit, but not prepared to travel .. • • • • Unverified and not finally classified .. •• •• " 1 836 45 l'ssi Fit for light work only .. •• •• •• 2& '286 Unemployable •• •• r i t _£, 4,513 | 272 4,785