H.—ll

Agricultural-implement makers had a very busy year, but engineering and the iron trades generally were reported dull. Notwithstanding this, the numbers employed in the iron trades and engineering increased largely. Tailoring made little advance, but those employed had increased in numbers so greatly (see diagram at end of report) in preceding years as to supply a reason for a temporary check. There was a large increase of those engaged in dressmaking, &c. With the exception of their hosiery branches, the woollen-mills slackened considerably after the halfyear was over; the high price of wool has affected the profits of local manufacture considerably, and cheap shoddy imports are also greatly complained of. Sawmilling and the timber trades had a good year, a very large increase of numbers being apparent in these employments. Flax-milling was brisk, and a large number of hands were engaged in excess of those at work in this occupation during the previous year. Unskilled labour was in excellent demand throughout the period under review. In Christchurch the construction of electric tramways absorbed surplus labour, but the completion of similar tramways in Wellington set free a great many persons for whom work had to be provided. I may mention, in passing, that Mr. Kerwin, the constructing engineer of the Wellington electric tramways, when leaving for Europe paid a high compliment to the colonial working-men. He said on a public occasion that "before he came to New Zealand he had been made somewhat nervous by talk about advanced labour laws, and by warnings that he would find he was not driving niggers in the Southern States of the United States of America; but, having constructed tramways in the Northern and Southern States, and in Glasgow and in England, he was never better pleased in his life. A great deal of this result had to do with the dignity and pride the working-men in New Zealand possessed. Coming to this colony two months late, he finished the work six months ahead of contract time, and he could not have done this without good men, so he gave credit to New Zealand workers." In the country districts work was plentiful, and workers also; there was no pressure on either hand. In the following table will be found the annual numbers of those practically assisted by the Department to obtain employment in New Zealand. To the numbers of the bread-winners thus assisted should be added those of the persons dependent upon them, and it will be seen that the Department has in this branch of its duty been of effective service to 115,652 people.

Number of Men assisted by the Department since Institution to Date.

It will be noticed that the proportions of the unemployed have changed in character, comparatively few married men now requiring assistance. For instance, Wellington District sent away 719 single against 211 married. This is a cheering sign, as it shows that there are fewer families in need of help, and that more permanent occupation than formerly available has been obtained by married workers. It is now the floating and unstable members of the community — the single men —who mostly avail themselves of the opportunities offered by Government. Another point of interest is the greater ability shown by the officers of the Department in providing private employment for applicants. In Wellington District those sent to private work numbered 715, against 215 sent to Government works; and in Auckland 729, against 306. This shows that the Department is gaining the confidence of private employers to a great degree. At one period during the year it was for some time difficult to get the number of men required for the cooperative works of railway-construction,

II

Year. Total. Married. Single. Dependants. Private Wrrk. Government Work. 1891-92 1892-93 1893-94 1894-95 1895-96 1896-97 1897-98 1898-99 1899-1900 1900-1 1901-2 1902-3 1903-4 1904-5 2,593 3,874 3,341 3,030 2,871 1,718 2,035 2,115 2,147 3,124 1,830 3,704 2,860 3,130 1,054 1,808 1,836 2,007 1,880 1,084 1,163 1,178 1,115 1,326 713 1,492 777 953 1,539 2,066 1,505 1,023 991 634 872 937 1,032 1,798 1,117 2,212 2,083 2,177 I 4,729 • 1,730 863 7,802 2,518 1,356 7,942 1,019 2,322 8,883 894 2,136 8.424 708 2,163 4,719 652 1,066 4,928 544 1,491 4,759 638 1,477 4,471 486 1,661 5,432 519 2,605 2,747 396 1,434 5,934 580 3,124 3,085 1,216 1,644 3.425 1,960 1,170 77,280 ' 13,860 ' 24,512 38,372 18,386 19,986