H—ll

Rotorua District The employment position was kept well in hand with the placement of 566 persons (477 males and 89 females) in employment. The number of disengaged workers was appreciably lower each month than in 1947-48, and did not rise above 3 except in May, when 10 workers were enrolled. This, however, was exactly half the number recorded in May, 1947, which was also a peak month. Public-works activity has absorbed surplus male labour in remote areas. It is now a well-established and growing practice among Maori men to take employment in distant districts. The Department has again placed more than 70 voung Maori men with dairy factories in Taranaki. Many Maoris, however, now make their own arrangements regarding such seasonal employment. This is an important development, as in the past Maoris in remote areas were reluctant to leave their own people, and this .tended to cause unemployment among them. Notified vacancies for males rose from 119 at 31st March, 1948, to 138 at 31st March, 1949. Forestry required 47 and bush sawmilling 15 workers. Vacancies in these two industries at 31st March, 1948, were 4 and 26 respectively. Female notified vacancies were 45, as compared with 35 at 31st March, 1948. Gisbome District The ebb of seasonal employment creates a special problem in this district, as between-season employment in other industries is insufficient to absorb displaced labour from freezing-works and dairy factories. Male enrolments of seasonal workers were heavy at the close of the 1947-48 season, and considerable effort was necessary to prevent unemployment from developing. A number of single workers were placed in Wellington (mainly with the City Council), while others (mostly married men) were absorbed ore public-works projects. The maximum number of males unemployed at the end of any month was 3. In the previous year the peak number was 22. This district requires a greater diversity of employment in order to achieve a better balance between seasonal and non-seasonal activity, and to provide a greater range of employment. Last May damage estimated at £250,000 was caused by disastrous floods. Relief gangs of Maori workers were organized by the Department, and a Government subsidy was granted to help defray the cost of salvaging maize crops. The number of notified vacancies for males at the 31st March, 1949, was 179 (185 at the 31st March, 1948). Notified vacancies for females were 41 (48 at 31st March, 1948). Napier District An expansion of secondary industry in Napier appears probable when the light industrial area at present being planned is fully developed. Work on the new suburb of Onekawa is almost completed, the first sale of sections took place early in 1949, and a further block of sections will be available shortly. During the winter months some difficulty was experienced in placing semi-fit workers in employment. The maximum number of disengaged males was 14 in September, of these men, however, 9 were fit for light work only and 3 were over sixty years of age. While little change is shown in the number of notified vacancies for males over the past twelve months (139 and 133 at 31st March, 1948 and 1949, respectively) the number of vacancies for skilled workers fell from 56 to 35, while vacancies for juveniles rose from 17 to 40. A slight easing in demand for female labour has occurred; vacancies fell from 66 at 31st March, 1948, to 43 at 31st March, 1949.

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