H—llA

until by 31st March, 1947, they totalled only 67 males and 7 females, including 43 semi-employable persons. As compared with some 25,022 placements effected by the Department in the twelve months, the number of those remaining registered at the end of March, 1947 was very small. For males, with an estimated working population of 520,000 in the Dominion (excluding Armed Forces), this means that only one person out of every 7,700 workers was unemployed at this date. For female workers the rate of unemployment is infinitesimal. The so-called " hard core " of unemployment, or the previously considered irreducible minimum, below which it had formerly been thought no reduction in the numbers of unemployed could be effected, has thus to-day been almost entirely eliminated. 102. One of the important aspects of the Department's work in the past twelve months has been that of locating suitable jobs for semi-employable workers who, by reason of physical disabilities, chronic ill health, or other such causes, are unable to perform work up to the standard of the physically fit. Special endeavours made on behalf of these workers in this period resulted in 950 being placed, including numbers of disabled ex-servicemen. A notable feature leading to the success of these efforts has been the ready co-operation on the part of a number of employers, without whose assistance considerable difficulties would otherwise have arisen. 103. Table 2 in the Appendix to this report sets out, by districts, the numbers of disengaged men remaining enrolled with the Department at monthly intervals and of disengaged women at quarterly intervals. A notable feature in the earlier portion of the period under review, when seasonal work was falling off, was the possibility of small pockets of unemployment developing in" those districts where off-seasonal employment was relatively limited—e.g., Rotorua and Gisborne districts in the North Island, and Blenheim district in the South Island. To offset the position in these districts it was found necessary, to a limited extent, to tap the reservoir of public-works projects held in reserve. In addition, a number of enrolees who were prepared to accept employment in other districts transferred to the city areas where the shortages of labour were most acute. As a result, unemployment was kept in check throughout the winter months. 104. Table 7 in the Appendix to this report sets out the male labour force engaged in seasonal industries, other than farming, at monthly intervals between August, 1946, and March, 1947, in each of the twenty-five employment districts. The following table shows the male labour strength engaged in individual seasonal industries at monthly intervals as stated by employers in returns to the Department: —

* Maximum number engaged during months covered by table, t Minimum number engaged during months covered by table. t Includes freezing-works, abbatoirs, ham and bacon curing, meat cool-stores, meat-dehydration, meat-canning, casing- works, sausage-making, and also fish canning, curing, and preserving.

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Male Labour Force engaged in Seasonal Industries (other than Farming), August, 1946, to March, 1947. 15th of Month. Meat processing, freezing and preserving J. Dairy , Factories. Wool-stores. Fruit and Vegetable preserving. Threshingmills and Chaff-cutting Totals. 1946 August .. September October November December 1947 January February March 8,314 8,136 f 7,885 8,797 12,773 *16,290 16,197 15,582 f2,469 3,232 3,785 3,952 *3,963 3,959 3,731 3,500 f856 925 968 1,545 1,986 *2,096 1,938 1,996 643 610 f562 587 601 587 611 *659 65 58 37 25 fl4 41 250 *299 f12,347 12,961 13,237 14,906 19,337 *22,973 22,727 22,036