H—ll

Amongst individual industries vehicle and cycle repair showed the only appreciable gain in labour force over the twelve months, moving from 12,842 to 13,566, a gain of 724. The next largest gains were in woollen and knitting mills (296); brick, tile, and stoneware (262); builders' woodwork (183); town sawmilling (170); pottery and glass {147); paper and pulp manufacture (132); and clothing and tobacco manufacture {both with gains of 105). These gains are small. On the other hand, nine industries showed reductions over the twelve months as follows :

Surveyed Labour Force in Manufacturing Industries Showing Reductions

(7) The tertiary industries made the most substantial gains in labour force during the twelve months, the more important gains being as follows :

Surveyed Labour Force in Selected Tertiary Industries

* Excludes non-tertiary activities such as coal-mining, forestry, sawmilling, building, and construction and engineering workshops, and also hospitals, education, road and rail transport, post and telegraph, insurance, and banking. (8) In primary industries gains were recorded in bush sawmills (6,179 in October, 1947, and 6,811 in October, 1948) and in forestry (2,029 to 2,301 over the same period). •Coal-mining moved forward from 5,527 to 5,761. (9) Apart from the large share taken by wholesale and retail trade and the relatively small gains of manufacturing industries, the pattern of labour force expansion has followed closely the lines of greatest national need. Forestry, bush sawmilling, and building and construction have all continued to move forward steadily. The serious post-war staffing deficiencies in essential transport and communications are being overtaken. Hospital staffing has made relatively slower progress, but the gains have nevertheless been appreciable. Education services, which also suffered from serious post-war staffing deficiencies, show an appreciable improvement.

5

— October, 1947. October, 1948. Reduction. Bread-baking .. .. .. .. 3,432 3,355 77 Beverages 3,032 2,983 49 Tanneries and woolscouring 1,658 1,531 127 Leather goods 1,234 1,017 217 Electrical manufacture .. .. 4,990 4,821 169 Vehicle and aircraft manufacture 3,492 3,376 116 Chemicals and by-products 5,689 5,588 101 Rubber 1,923 1,677 246 Miscellaneous manufacture 2,022 1,920 102 i

1 October, 1947. October, 1948. Gain. Rail transport 21,260 21,734 474 Post and telegraph 14,835 16,052 1,217 Wholesale and retail trade 72,818 75,142 2,324 Hospitals 18,238 18,790 552 Education 17,615 18,347 732 Government Administration* 17,789 18,413 624 Hotels and catering 16,666 17,329 663 Insurance, banking, and financial 11,435 11,749 314