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(c) The number of applications to engage labour in non-essential industries (males and females separately), the number granted and refused, and the numbers of those refused who were subsequently directed to other work. (d) The number of cases of industrial absenteeism reported in essential industries, the number of these which were verified, the industries affected, and the mature of the action taken. (e) The number of appeals against actions of Man-power Officers under each of the above heads, and the results of the appeals. (/) The number of vacancies (males and females separately) in essential industries as at the 15th of each month. (In 1945 this was broadened to cover all industries.) (g) Vocational Guidance Offices also co-operated with the National Service Department, and regular information was available from them through Man-power Officers regarding the type of person seeking the aid of these offices and the industries in which they were subsequently placed. 486 Information under the various headings listed above has been tabulated in successive departmental reports for the years 1943, 1944, and 1945. Figures for the year ending 31st March, 1946, together with cumulative figures for previous years, will be found in Tables 28-39 of the Appendix. SECTION lI.—SPECIAL SURVEYS (i) Need for Special Surveys 487. While the above information, together with the vast amount of supplementary detail supplied to Man-power Officers by employers seeking or contesting man-power actions, gave the Department information of a high degree of accuracy over the fields covered, occasions arose when special information had to be obtained —e.g., when it became necessary to find out within an industry how labour was distributed between different classes of production ; or when the programming of war production required special knowledge of skills available, incidence of military call-ups, &c. ; or when it became necessary to decentralize industry to centres with suitable labour resources. For such purposes various special surveys were carried out from time to time. (ii) Special Surveys prior to 31st March, 1943 488. Prior to 31st March, 1943, a number of local and some national surveys of man-power content in relation to military eligibility were made through Man-power Utilization Committees. In the engineering industry a survey was carried out for the particular purpose of ascertaining the maximum pool of labour available for ship repairs. In the main, these early surveys were designed to give a factual basis for the redistribution of man-power between the Armed Forces and industry, and between differing priorities of work within industry. 489. In addition, a survey of wage rates and trends in particular occupations throughout the Dominion was made showing comparisons between award rates, ruling rates, and the highest rates in the years 1939, 1941, and 1942. Summaries of this information are to be found in the Appendix to the report of the Department for the year ended March, 1943. 490. Surveys of the seasonal industries (freezing-works and dairy factories) were also made, showing the labour -content and requirements of these industries, and these surveys provided information which was used as a basis for providing labour to cope with the seasonal demand of the two industries, whose combined peak season labour strength each year exceeds that in the off-season by between nine and ten thousand workers. Table 48 of the Appendix shows the seasonal fluctuation of labour content of freezing-works and dairy factories. (iii) Special Surveys between Ist April, 1943, and 31st March, 1945 . 491. By the end of March, 1943, the Department was well provided with information regarding the over-all man-power position in all important industries, and its district offices had built up accurate records covering the majority of industries and even of individual units operating in their districts.

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