H—ll

Paimerston North District Industrial expansion has continued over the past year. The labour force in engineering and metals rose from 1,180 at the 15th October, 1947, to 1,342 at the 15th October, 1948. Smaller increases have occurred in textiles and clothing manufacture. The numbers engaged in transport and communication over the same period increased from 2,005 to 2,184. Dairy factories and freezing-works were fully-manned during the season. Notified vacancies for males at the 31st March, 1949, were 222 and 148 for females, as compared with 246 and 184 respectively at the 31st March, 1948. Masterton District Little change has occurred in the employment field over the past year. Opportunities for employment (other than seasonal) have been limited. No difficulty was experienced by dairy factories and freezing-works in meeting their peak requirements ■of labour. During the winter months considerable placement activity is needed to absorb the outflow of seasonal labour. The number of disengaged males reached its highest point in June, when 12 workers were enrolled for employment. Notified vacancies for males at 31st March, 1949, were 44 ; at the 31st March,' 1948, the number was 47. Female notified vacancies at the 31st March, 1949, were 35, as --compared with 31 twelve months earlier. Lower Hntt District That this district is predominantly an industrial area is emphasized by the fact that more than three-fifths of male and two-fifths of female workers are employed in secondary industries. By far the most important industries are those in the engineering and metalworking group, which employ more than one-quarter of all male workers in the district, and the textiles and clothing group, which claims about one-sixth of all female workers. Building and construction occupies about a sixth of all the males employed in the district. Vacancies. —The total number of notified male vacancies at 31st March, 1949 (1,269), was only slightly lower than at 31st March, 1948. The over-all demand for skilled labour fell, the number of vacancies being 458 at 31st March, 1949, as compared with 584 at 31st March, 1948, while vacancies for unskilled workers rose by 57 to 738 at 31st March, 1949. Vacancies for female workers, which numbered 421 at 31st March, 1948, rose to 568 at 31st March, 1949. Included in the latter figure are vacancies for 387 unskilled workers (298 at 31st March, 1948) and 156 juveniles (67 at 31st March, 1948). Manufacturing Industries.—Notified male vacancies in manufacturing industries at 31st March, 1949, numbered 815, as compared with 986 at 31st March, 1948. The bulk of vacancies occur in the engineering and metalworking group of industries, and in particular in industries engaged in the manufacture *of vehicles. At the end of last year engineering industries required 824 male workers ; but by 31st March, 1949, the requirements had fallen by 170, to 654 men. The vacancies notified for male workers in the vehicle-manufacturing industry fell by 283 (to 467) at 31st March, 1949. Layoffs occurred in motor-vehicle-assembly plants near the beginning of the year, due, it is stated, to a reduction of the quantity of imports of parts for assembly. The position improved later in the year, when firms were again seeking labour. The demand for female labour in manufacturing industries has remained strong, the number of notified vacancies (335) being only 14 lower than the number at 31st March, 1948.

61