H.—llA

could not have mobilized the remainder of the labour force for war work and brought forth from the leisured population its idle but available members as has been done through the operation of the present system. Though there have been many improvements and adjustments in points often of major importance to the working of the whole system, it cannot be claimed that there remain no further unsolved problems. Reference has already been made to the difficulties and hardship involved in directing workers to undertake work at a rate of pay below that to which they have become accustomed, and also to the embarrassments arising out of trying to deal with applications based on unsatisfactory medical evidence ; in each of these cases a new plan is at present in the course of adoption in an attempt to meet the problem. No fully satisfactory solution to the accommodation difficulty has yet been found. Though much new accommodation has been provided in the centres where war industries have undergone the most rapid expansion, there still remain many pools of unused woman-power in areas where there is no labour shortage, and these resources cannot be tapped until such time as further accommodation becomes available in the more difficult labour supply areas. Another problem which will recur with added difficulty while the war continues is that of findiug a sufficient supply of seasonal labour at the right time each year to meet the demands of the shearing, harvesting, and food-processing industries. New Zealand is far more subject to this particular difficulty than are many of the older and more industrially-developed countries. The conditions of war impose peculiar and unexpected demands upon working populations throughout the world. In peacetime, and apart from seasonal movements, the distribution of skill groups needed among the various industries is subject only to slow change and adjustment, but in war the whole emphasis of urgency and priority is thrown on a few industries only, while the remainder aro suddenly subordinated, so that whole migrations of workers from industry to industry become an inherent feature in the larger picture of the country at war. On the extent to which these migrations are facilitated in wartime, and later reversed or compensated when the time for demobilization comes, depends much of the success and efficiency of attempts to reach other and greater objectives of policy. PART lI.—EMPLOYMENT PROMOTION 12. EMPLOYMENT PROMOTION SCHEMES As indicated earlier in this report, the Employment Division has been absorbed by the Man-power Division of the Department and the administration of the Employment Promotion Schemes, which are under the control of the Hon. the Minister of Labour, is now undertaken by the District Man-power Officers. The following statement shows the operations of the various schemes for the period from Ist April, 1942, to 31st March, 1943. Description of Schemes. —Scheme No. 4b : Under this scheme subsidies up to 75 per cent, of the wages-cost were provided for the employment of registered and eligible unemployed men on a contract basis for the improvement and development of farm lands. The scheme was suspended during November, 1941, but current contracts were permitted to continue. With the increased shortage of man-power generally, however, this scheme was terminated from the 31st December, 1942. During the past financial year contracts in respect of which subsidies were paid under this scheme have produced the following results : — Estimated stock increase— Sheep .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 14,000 Cattle .. .. .. .. .. .. 2,418 Work completed— Scrub-cutting .. .. .. .. .. .. 13,035 acres. Gorse-grubbing .. .. .. .. .. 4,248 acres. Stumping .. .. .. .. .. .. 5,751 acres. Bush-felling .. .. .. .. .. .. 494 acres. Drain digging, deepening, and widening .. .. .. 6,581 chains. Fencing .. .. .. .. .. .. 6,540 chains. Scheme No. : 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 3rd April, 1943, a total of 1,293 inexperienced farm hands had been placed under this scheme for training, and in an additional 245 cases house-allowance had been paid. Of the whole number placed, only 4 were still employed on subsidized employment at the 3rd April, 1943. Scheme No. 13 : This scheme provides for the full-time employment at award rates with local bodies and other employing authorities of registered and eligible men. During the year there has been continuous combing out of all men believed fit for the great variety of light tasks which war-time conditions provide. As a result many men who, after medical examination, were considered unfit and who considered themselves unfit for any form of normal employment have gone to and remained in unsubsidized employment of the lighter types. At 3rd April, 1943, only 636 men remained in employment under this scheme. These men represented cases of visible handicap, medical disability, advanced age, or failing powers, and all except a negligible proportion had dependants. It is considered that, denied work, many of these

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