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workers is usually rather difficult to obtain in this district, but the public-works irrigation scheme at Hinds absorbed all men available during the winter of 1946. Consequently, the number of persons enrolled did not exceed four at any stage. Woollen and knitting mills, shops and offices, hospitals, hotels, and catering establishments afford the main scope of employment for female workers in the district. Shortages of labour were confined almost entirely to the woollen and knitting mills, which notified 90 per cent, or more of all female vacancies over the twelve months. At present there are approximately 1,100 males and somewhat less than 250 females employed in secondary industries other than seasonal undertakings in the district, and there is some scope for the establishment of new industries. This applies particularly to the commencement of any industrial enterprise requiring the engagement of unskilled or semi-skilled male workers. The Department has given all possible encouragement and assistance in this direction. Male vacancies in farming, which numbered 7 on Ist April, 1946, rose to 65 on 31st January, 1947, but were down to 45 by 31st March, 1947. The fairly steady demand for permanent farm hands, particularly during the latter half of the period, was satisfactorily met by placements effected by the Department. Shearing work was delayed through the abnormally wet weather experienced towards the end of 1946. Some difficulties arose in obtaining sufficient labour for harvesting operations, but the arranging of week-end teams materially assisted the position. Most calls for header-harvester and threshing-mill operatives were satisfied. No particular difficulties arose in meeting the requirements for male labour in the freezing-works. Shortages of female labour in the woollen and knitting mills have been acute. Female vacancies rose steeply from 30 at 30th June, 1946, to 110 by 31st July, 1946, and still totalled 111 on 31st March, 1947. Timaru District (Estimated male labour force, 13,100) 141. Secondary industries in this district include engineering and metal working ndustries, grain-milling, tanneries, flax and woollen mills, footwear-manufacture, and pottery. Farming activities are predominantly agricultural, principally wheat and field crops, with sheep-farms of importance in the back country. The building and construction industry, transport and other non-manufacturing industries, including grain and wool stores, also make demands on available labour. The two freezing-works require a seasonal inflow of nearly 450 men. A measure of industrial expansion has continued over the period under review. The main avenues of employment for female labour are retail shops and other distributing industries, the woollen-mills, boot, shoe, clothing and glove factories, biscuit-manufacture, and pottery-works, and hotels and catering establishments. Hospitals in the district have had no great difficulty in securing female staff, vacancies notified to the Department remaining at less than 10 throughout the year. Two major hydro-electric plants under construction at Lakes Tekapo and Pukaki have accentuated the demand for skilled and unskilled labour, and were largely responsible for the substantial increase in notified vacancies in the industry from 19 in April, 1946, to 130 in February, 1947. The vacancies in respect of other building works have remained fairly steady throughout the year. The Behabilitation Department's trade trainees have been readily placed with employers. The supply of teamsters, tractor-drivers, and harvest workers was generally adequate to meet the demand, but threshing-mill owners experienced difficulty in manning their various units. Shearing in the back country proceeded with the minimum of difficulty, though at times there was a shortage of blade shearers and general shed hands. Two successful classes in shearing for learners were inaugurated during the season. Farm vacancies at 31st March, 1947, numbered 12, a decrease of 22 from the February total of 34, which was the largest number notified to the Department during the period. Freezing-works at Pareora and Smithfield and the linen-flax factories at Washdyke, Fairlie, Geraldine, and Makikihi were able to fill their labour requirements without any particular difficulty. In the wool and grain stores sufficient labour was also obtained. Hotels were fairly well staffed, though 15 vacancies were recorded on 31st March, 1947, for female workers, mainly in kitchens and dining-rooms. A limited demand for domestics in hospitals also existed. Vacancies for females in the woollen-mills increased from 20 in April, 1946, to 30 in August, 1946, and have remained steady since this date. In the clothing and boot and shoe factories an aggregate of 16 vacancies on 31st March, 1947, remained unfilled. Oamaru District (Estimated male labour force, 5,200) 142. No serious shortage of male labour exists in this district, although, in common with other centres, tradesmen have remained steadily in demand. Secondary industries have shown some expansion during the period, and continued industrial development

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