H—II

(8) In the Bay of Plenty - Rotorua district the milling of the extensive softwood forests now reaching maturity and the establishment of a large pulp and paper mill at Murupara, together with consequent development, are confidently expected to bring about a considerable expansion of employment opportunities for the Maori people resident in the area. (/) Employment Advisory Committees (1) Details of the origin and functions of Employment Advisory Committees were given in the last annual report of this Department, together with a list of the industries in respect of which such Committees have been set up. The local Committees for all except the laundry industry continued to function during the year. The laundry industry had a Committee in Auckland only, and this Committee went into recess during the year by its own decision. Three National Employment Committees met during the year, covering the printing trades, clothing-manufacturing, and the baking trades. National Committees are called together as the occasion arises. On the request of organizations concerned, further national Committees are in process of establishment. (2) National Committees are advised of decisions and recommendations of local Committees. Where there is no National Committee for an industry (or where the circumstances do not warrant the calling together of the National Committee) local Committee recommendations with more than local significance are referred for comment to all local Committees in the industry. This has been done on a number of occasions during the year. Minutes of National Committee meetings are made available to all local Committees in the same industry. (3) Local Employment Advisory Committees have devoted much of their time to assisted immigration matters. In this field they are looked to for advice as to vacancies for immigrants, the allocation of immigrants to the various employers, and applications by immigrants to change their employment. Much valuable work has been done by committees, and it is appropriate to express thanks to their individual members. Section 2—lmmigration (a) Administration (1) During the past year 1,528 men and women arrived in New Zealand under the scheme of Government-assisted immigration, while priority passages were arranged for a further 1,843 selected immigrants paying their own fares. There have been no alterations in basic eligibility requirements for assisted immigrants. Such immigrants are required to be residents of the United Kingdom and between the ages of twenty and thirty-five years, although these age-limits may be extended in the case of experienced female factory operatives and females taking up employment in hospitals. All assisted immigrants enter into a contract with the New Zealand Government to engage in approved employment for a period of two years after their arrival in this country. Preference is given to ex-service men and women applicants, for whom free passages are provided, while all others selected are required to contribute £lO towards the cost of their fares. In view of the shortage of accommodation within New Zealand it has been necessary to continue limiting assistance to single persons without dependants. Eligible applicants are selected on the basis of their suitability for employment within a specified list of occupations. In May, 1948, the scheme was extended to cover immigrants in a much wider range of occupations, and applications have since been accepted by the Immigration Branch of the New Zealand High Commissioner's Office for practically all types of productive and servicing work. A nomination scheme has also been introduced to enable persons and firms in New Zealand to nominate for an assisted passage single settlers for whom they can provide accommodation. The same conditions of eligibility apply to nominated immigrants as to other assisted immigrants. Up to the 31st March, 1949, nearly 800 nominations had been received.

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