H—ll

Tauranga District Dairy-farming, timber-production, and citrus and small fruit (mainly sub-tropical) are the chief industries in this district. Since the war the district has expanded rapidly, particularly in and about the towns, where fruit-growing is leading to intensive cultivation and closer settlement. The number of new secondary units is also increasing. Mills established in the ranges parallel to the coast produce both exotic and indigenous timbers, continuity in this industry being ensured by extensive re-afforestation. The principal avenues of industrial employment are bush sawmilling, forestry, and building and construction. Female workers are employed principally in servicing industries ; at 15th October, 1947, out of a total of 791 women employees in units surveyed, 602 were employed in distribution and finance, domestic and personal services, and administration and professional work, 110 of these being employed in hospitals. Male vacancies notified at 31st March, 1918, were 75. Of these, 16 were in forestry, while others were recorded in the Post and Telegraph Department, in building and construction, in the Kail ways Department, and in the brickmakmg industry. There is also reported to be a demand for young single farm workers, very few of whom are offering, and for single timber-workers and tradesmen for motor and general engineering. Female vacancies notified totalled only 11. Rolorua District Apart from farming, this district employs about 2,200 men in sawmilling and afforestation, nearly 1,000 in building and construction, about 850 in manufacturing industries, and more than 600 in transport and communication. Female labour is employed principally in servicing industries, about 1,600 out of 2,000 being employed in distribution and finance, domestic and personal services, and administration and professional work. At 15th October, 1917, 426 females were employed in hospitals. Public-works activity has absorbed surplus male labour that appeared likely to become a problem in more remote areas. Single men have been eneouraged to take employment away from their homes, and again this year about 70 young Maori men took employment in dairy factories in Taranaki. There is a need for industrial development to widen local employment opportunities for both the present male adult Maori workers and the ever increasing number of Maori youths. Notified male vacancies at 31st March, 1948, totalled 119, as compared with 113 at 31st March, 1947. Bush sawmilling required 26 workers. Vacancies in this industry at 31st March, 1947, were 40, and although there has been an easing off in the demand for bush sawmill workers, men with any degree of skill are still sought after. Female notified vacancies totalled 35 (39 at 31st March, 1947), of whom 15 were required by hospitals and 14 by hotels. Gisborne District Farming (mainly sheep) and related seasonal industries such as freezing-works, wool-scouring, wool-stores, and dairy factories are the most important employing industries. Winter employment presents a special problem as between-season employment is not available in other industries. The surge of seasonal employment amounts to about 600 males. With heavy male enrolments for employment at the close of the 1946-47 season, considerable effort was needed to prevent winter unemployment. Many men were transferred to Wellington, while others were placed locally on county drainage (about 50) and public-works projects and the erection of a wool-store. This district has urgent need of a greater diversity of industry to promote a better balance between seasonal and non-seasonal activities. Labour is available up the east coast and in other parts of the district, and if accommodation were available in Gisborne could be absorbed into manufacturing and other industrial enterprises in the urban area.

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