H—ll

(9) The resident capacity of the various hostels and camps operating at 31st March, 1949, is set out below (hostels established since 31st March, 1948, are asterisked): —

(c) Training of Shearers (1) To assist in overcoming the shortage of shearers which became apparent in the post-war years the Department, in conjunction with the New Zealand Wool Board, introduced at the commencement of the 1947-48 season a subsidized scheme to encourage young men to learn the craft of shearing. Finance to meet the cost of subsidies was provided entirely by the New Zealand Wool Board, but the administration of the scheme and the placement of learners was undertaken by the Department through its district officers. (2) Under the scheme young men. accepted for training were taken into the shearingshed during actual shearing operations and taught shearing by one of the experienced shearers employed. The learner received a flat weekly wage of £5 13s. during the three weeks of the training period. Farmers and shearing contractors engaging approved learners were subsidized to the extent of £3 per man-week, of which the sum of £1 per week was diverted to the experienced shearer instructing the learner. (3) The scheme met with reasonable success in districts where the shortage of shearers was most acute —viz., Christchurch, Ashburton, Timaru, Oamaru, and Dunedin. Some 75 learners were trained, while an additional 20 passed through classes conducted by technical colleges also subsidized by the New Zealand Wool Board. District reports indicated that, with few exceptions, the learners developed into competent shearers. It is believed that the great majority of these 95 men resumed shearing in the 1948-49 season.

11

Camps and Hostels. District. Capacity. Industrial workers' camps (males) — M. . F. Waikaraka Park Auckland .. 340 Mangere (Maoris) „ 110 Hataitai ..... Wellington 200 Winter Show 200 Petone Hutt Yalley 400 Industrial workers' hostels (female) — Hanson's Lane Christchurch .. 33 w"b n urn}°P erated Y - W - C - A - / Wellington .. \Hutt Valley 90 280 Immigration hostels— St. Kilda Dunedin 150 Wigram (combined) Christchurch 120 160 Fort Dorset Wellington 104 192 North Head Auckland 140 Narrow Neck „ 138 Public Service hostels— Oriental Bay Wellington 98 Hobson Street „ 55 117 Tinakori Road 99 21 Mechanics Bay (operated by Post and Telegraph Auckland 24 Department. Public Service allocation, 24 beds) Home aid hostels — 146 Dominion Road .. .. Auckland 10 175 Vivian Street Wellington 12 Miners' hostels— Reefton West Coast 50 *Huntly Waikato 100 • *Granity Buller 6