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construction at Maraetai. These two works together employed, at the height of their activity, a constructional staff of about 1,200. During the period under review new undertakings have been established in the district, and expansion of existing industries has taken place. The district offers further scope to firms seeking avenues of decentralization. Vacancies for male labour declined from over 500 in June, 1946, to 370 by the end of March, 1947. However, within this over-all trend, various fluctuations in the industrial composition of vacancies occurred. Farming vacancies rose from 2in April, 1946, to 57 by 31st August, 1946, and declined to son 31st Maroh, 1947. In dairy factories the demand was greatest in August, 1946, when 115 vacancies were notified to the Department, but by the end of March, 1947, these vacancies were down to 11. The highest number of female vacancies notified to the Department (201), occurred in January, 1947, and the lowest number (122) in July, 1946. On 31st March, 1947, vacancies for female labour totalled 133. Approximately one-half of these vacancies were in hospitals (65 in March, 1947). In hotels and catering establishments female vacancies varied around 40 for most of the year, but declined to 24 by 31st March, 1947. The majority of the calls throughout the year for farm labour were satisfied, although, at the height of the dairy season, unsatisfied farm vacancies reached a total of 57. The rise in seasonal activities brought a substantial increase in the demand for labour in dairy factories. In some cases lack of accommodation for married men made vacancies difficult to fill. In many factories a considerable amount of overtime was necessary during parts of the season. •' In coal-mining a steady demand for truckers and hewers was evident, but shortage of accommodation in mining townships has been a retarding factor in satisfying the full requirements for labour. Vacancies in coal-mines on 31st March, 1947, totalled 79 (30 for skilled and 49 for unskilled men). Plans now afoot for the erection of a hostel at Huntly should enable these demands for labour to be more fully met in due course. Although continued expansion of engineering and metal working industries occurred throughout the period under review, vacancies were not unduly numerous, fluctuating between 30 and 40 over the twelve months. Male vacancies in building and construction reached a peak of 152 on 31st May, 1946, but have since eased off to 111 by the end of March, 1947 (98 for skilled tradesmen). Taumarunui District (Estimated male labour force, 3,900) 1171 Bush sawmilling, with more than 1,150 men engaged, is the major extractive industry in the district. Coal-mining, and the transport industries (particularly Railways), building and construction, and the limited secondary industries, including building materials and furnishings, provide most of the remaining avenues of employment for the male worker. Mixed farming is also carried on in the district. ISFo winter seasonal employment problem arises in this district. The range of work open to females is comparatively limited. Retail shops, hotels, hospitals, and other servicing industries employ somewhat less than 450 women. A noticeable feature of late, however, has been the examination of the district by firms interested in the possibilities of decentralization. The King-country Electric-power Board, which commenced during the year, is engaged in constructing power-lines and reticulation work in the Taumarunui, Ohura, and Kaitieke Counties. Approximately one-half of the reported demand for male workers throughout the past year was in the bush sawmilling industry. At 31st March, 1947, male notified vacancies totalled 111 (70 for skilled men, 30 for unskilled men, and 11 for juveniles). At the end of March, 1947, the bush sawmilling industry still required 54 men, including 34 skilled workers, despite an increase of 73 in pay-roll strength between April and October, 1946. Skilled bushmen, cross-cutters, and mill hands are particularly required. New mills with well-planned modern community centres are now being erected in the vicinity of the Pureora State Forest Service plantations, while other mills are expanding their activities. The building and construction industry had vacancies on 31st March, 1947, for 29 men, including 18 for tradesmen. Vacancies in the Railways Department numbered 34 on 31st October* 1946, men being required for the locomotive, traffic, and maintenance staffs. Farming vacancies on 31st March, 1947, totalled 11. Small numbers of vacancies exist in various other industries. Female vacancies in this district remained fairly constant over the past twelve months ; at 31st March, 1947, they numbered 25, of which 17 were in hospitals (14 for trained nurses and trainees and 3 for domestic staff). y

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