H.—ll

1930. NRW ZE A L AND.

DEPARTMENT OF LABOUR (REPORT OF THE).

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

REPORT. The Secretary, Department of Labour, to the Hon. the Minister of Labour. Sir, — Department of Labour, Wellington, 19th June, 1930. I have the honour to present herewith the thirty - ninth annual report of this Department, for the information of His Excellency the Governor-General, and to be laid before Parliament, in compliance with the Labour Department Act, 1908, and the Factories Act, 1921-22. The report covers the financial year Ist April, 1929, to 31st March, 1930. I have, &c., W. Newton, The Hon. the Minister of Labour. Secretary of Labour. UNEMPLOYMENT. From the statement below, showing the total number of applications pending from week to week at the Department's Employment Bureaux throughout the Dominion, it will be seen that the number of applicants increased from 2,787 at the beginning of the year to 3,896 on Bth July, 1929. From the latter date the total decreased gradually to 2,466 on the 30th September. As it appeared, however, that the unemployment situation was still acute, it being estimated that there were many unemployed persons who were not registered at the Department's Bureaux, a special Cabinet Committee was set up to go into the question of commencing sufficient public works of a reproductive nature to absorb all unemployed. All persons who were out of work were requested to register with the Department, as it was necessary to ascertain the exact number of men seeking employment before a decision could be arrived at as to the works that were to be opened up. Immediately an announcement was made to this effect, the number of applicants increased to 4,924 on the 7th October, and reached 6,264 on the 14th October. Work was offered to all applicants, and up to the 31st October 5,664 men were placed in employment. At that date there were still on the registers 2,299 applicants who were willing to undertake the work offered by the Government, and. employment was subsequently offered to these men. The number of applicants gradually declined from October, but from January the figures slowly rose to 3,130 at 31st. March. Statement showing the Total Number of Applications pending Week to Week at the Department's Employment Bureaux throughout the Dominion. 1/4/29 .. .. 2,787 5/8/29 .. .. 3,368 I 9/12/29 .. .. 2,080 8/4/29 .. 2,796 12/8/29 .. .. 3,082 16/12/29 .. .. 1,854 15/4/29 .. .. 3,211 19/8/29 .. .. 2,941 1 23/12/29 .. .. 1,453 22/4/29 .. .. 3,198 26/8/29 .. .. 2,795 ! 30/12/29 .. .. 1,242 29/4/29 .. .. 3,263 2/9/29 .. .. 2,722 ! 6/1/30 .. .. 1,565 6/5/29 .. .. 3,211 9/9/29 .. .. 2,618 , 13/1/30 .. .. 2,520 13/5/29 .. .. 3,335 16/9/29 .. ..2,608 20/1/30 .. .. 2,723 20/5/29 .. .. 3,388 23/9/29 .. .. 2,617 ! 27/1/30 .. .. 2,572 27/5/29 .. .. 3,427 30/9/29 .. .. 2,466 I 3/2/30 .. .. 2,398 3/6/29 .. .. 3,638 7/10/29 .. .. 4,924 ! 10/2/30 .. .. 2,402 10/6/29 .. .. 3,418 14/10/29 .. .. 6,264 17/2/30 .. .. 2,449 17/6/29 .. .. 3,431 21/10/29 .. .. 5,541 24/2/30 .. .. 2,520 24/6/29 .. .. 3,662 28/10/29 .. .. 4,142 3/3/30 .. .. 2,578 1/7/29 .. .. 3,786 4/11/29 .. .. 3,108 10/3/30 .. .. 2,652 8/7/29 .. .. 3,896 11/11/29 .. .. 2,589 17/3/30 .. .. 2,806 15/7/29 .. •• 3,850 18/11/29 .. .. 2,624 24/3/30 .. .. 3,006 22/7/29 .. .. 3,725 i 25/11/29 .. .. 2,544 31/3/30 .. 3,130 29/7/29 .. .. 3,349 j 2/12/29 .. .. 2,404

I—H,1 —H, 11.