H—9

Statement Showing for the Year Ended 31st March, 1949, Duration of Unemployment for Males and Females According to Age-groups

The above schedule discloses that approximately 49 per cent, of the male beneficiaries were unemployed for less than five weeks, while approximately 34 per cent, were unemployed for periods varying from five to twelve weeks, and 14 per cent, from thirteen to twenty-five weeks. Of the few female beneficiaries, approximately one-half were unemployed for less than five weeks. SICKNESS BENEFITS The following figures show the number of applications for sickness benefits dealt with during the years ended 31st March, 1948, and 31st March, 1949, respectively:—

The number of sickness benefits granted during the year totalled 30,421, a decrease of 934, or approximately 3 per cent., from the previous year. There were 4,945 benefits current at 31st March, 1949, and expenditure for the year amounted to £911,107, an increase of £14,014 over the figure for the previous year.

Statement Showing for the Year Ended 31st March, 1949, Duration of Sickness for Males and Females Whose Sickness Benefits Ceased During the Year

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Years Years Years Years Period of Unemployment. 16 to 19. 20 to 29. 30 to 39. 4-0 to 49. M. F. M. | p. M. 1 F - M. 1 E ' 1 to 4 weeks 5 32 3 45 2 38 5 to 12 weeks 18 1 22 42 13 to 25 weeks 1 8 1 7 12 26 to 52 weeks 3 1 Totals 6 58 5 77 2 i 93 Years 50 to 59. Years 60 and over. Totals. Grand Period of Unemployment. Total. ii. E. M. p. M. | jr. 1 to 4 weeks 31 5 1 156 6 162 5 to 12 weeks 20 1 4 106 2 108 13 to 25 weeks .. .. 15 1 2 45 2 47 26 to 52 weeks 5 9 9 Totals 71 2 11 1 316 10 326

1947-48. 1948-49. Males. Females. | Totals. Males. | Females. Totals, Persons granted benefit Number of applications declined 24,073 2,683 7,282 1,195 31,355 3,878 23,150 2,665 7,271 832 30,421 3,497 Totals 26,756 8,477 35,233 25,815 8,103 33,918

Period of Sickness. Males. | Females. | Total. 1 to 4 weeks 7,939 1,913 9,852 5 to 12 weeks 7,864 2,380 10,244 13 to 25 weeks 2,763 1,047 3,810 26 to 52 weeks 1,418 486 594 2,012 Over 52 weeks 269 755 Total 20,470 6,203 26,673