H.—lla

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 Ist April, 1944, being as follows : —

Scheme No. 16a : Subsidized Workers in Boot-manufacturing Industry. —A total of 29 men have been engaged under this scheme since its commencement in August, 1939, 2 of these contracts being in operation on Ist April, 1944, 17 having terminated, and the remaining 10 having expired.

Numbers employed under the above Schemes. —The following table shows the numbers of men engaged under the various schemes in full-time subsidized employment at approximately quarterly points of time from April, 1943, to April, 1944 : —

Financial. —Provision for expenditure incurred in the promotion of employment is subject to appropriation by Parliament in terms of the Public Revenues Act, 1926, and during the year under review the sum of £220,750 (gross) was appropriated from the Consolidated Fund under vote " Labour " for this purpose. The amount appropriated included £10,500 (gross) to cover the administration expenses of the Employment Division, which were met by vote " National Service" in the first instance and subsequently recovered from vote " Labour." The net payments during the year ended 31st March, 1944, and corresponding figures for the previous year, including administration expenses, were as follows : — 1943-44. 1942-43. Employment Promotion Schemes— £ £ Scheme No. 4b .. .. .. 1,023 19,441 Scheme No. 4f .. .. .. 174 985 Scheme No. 13 143,667 329,509 Scheme No. 16 .. .. 63 637 Scheme No. 16a .. .. .. 110 485 Insurance of workers .. .. .. .. 218 Transport of workers .. .. .. .. 831 Youths' farm settlement .. .. 348 384 Rural housing bonus .. . . .. 778 3, 438 Assistance to flax industry .. .. 23 4, 052 Miscellaneous 567 £ 1,699 £ 146,753 361,679 Administration expenses .. .. .. 10,500 12,500 £157,253 £374,179 It will be seen from the above statement that the expenditure under the employment promotion schemes during the year ended 31st March, 1944, was £157,253, as compared with £374,179 during the previous year, a reduction of £216,926. 14. ADMINISTRATION AND STAFF During the whole of the period covered by this report the position of Director of National Service was held by Mr. J. S. Hunter. This position has since been amalgamated with that of Controller of Man-power, and the control of the policy of Armed Forces Appeal Boards, on the one hand, and Man-power Officers and Appeal Committees, on the other hand, is now held jointly.

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Carpenters. Bricklayers. Total. Apprentices. Trainees. Contracts suspended .. .. .. .. 214 14 7 '235 Contracts terminated.. . . .. . . 185 81 4 270 Contracts completed .. .. .. .. 199 28 12 239 Contracts cancelled .. .. .. .. 9 5 1 15 Totals ' .. 607 128 24 759

_ Scheme Scheme Scheme Scheme T„t„i 1)ate - No. 4f. No. 13. No. 10. No. 16a. iolal " 1943 3rd April ...... 4 636 1 4 645 26th June 4 622 1 4 631 18th September .. .. ... i 595 1 4 604 11th December .. .. .. 1 572 .. 4 577 1944 1st April J 494 ._ 1 _ _2 497