H.—35.

The figure 48,743 at 30th September, 1933, representing men employed on Scheme No. 5, can be reduced considerably if it is desired to show only those men who are in receipt of part-time relief work. A recent special investigation revealed that approximately 3,700 men registered and receiving Scheme No. 5 relief have their relief pay supplemented for full-time work by the employing authorities. In the case of these men, it is convenient to retain them on the register, but the Scheme No. 5 payment is applied as a subsidy in the majority of cases, precisely as with other schemes where men come off the register. An analysis of this number follows :— Scheme No. 5. —Work on which Relief Labour was engaged at 30th September, 1933, the Men's Relief Pay being supplemented for Full-time Employment. Class of Work. Number of Men. General land-development, including work " over the fence " .. .. 1,320 Land-drainage .. .. .. .. ~ .. 220 Improvement of backblock roads .. .. • .. .. .. 1 025 Other reproductive work .. .. .. .. ~ ~ 40 Total, reproductive .. .. .. .. .. 2,605 Improvement of arterial roads .. .. .. .. .. 240 Local-body work, mainly in cities and towns .. .. .. .. 405 New Zealand Railways (married men at standard rates) .. .. .. 155 Other work .. .. .. .. ~ .. _ _ 295 Total .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,095 Total, all classes of work .. .. .. .. 3,700 Note. Of the total of 3,700 shown above, approximately 490 were single men and 3,210 married men. Actually, therefore, only 45,043 men were being employed for rationed periods of work under Scheme No. 5 at 30th September, 1933, and this number may be further reduced by excluding 625 intermittent workers in certain industries who were allowed to register and receive supplementary assistance from the Unemployment Fund. The Board has recently compiled a statement of the amount of reproductive work done in rural districts through the employment of relief labour from Ist January, 1932, up to 30th June, 1933. This statement comprises Table Vin the Appendix. Some of the principal items of work completed are : Formation, widening, or metalling of backblock roads (dray width), 1,882 miles ; bushfelling, 4,320 acres ; stumping and logging, 10,375 acres ; scrub-cutting, 120,887 acres ; land clearing and levelling, 22,856 acres; fencing, 243 miles; river-improvement work, 236 miles; land-drainage, 1,230 miles; and tree-planting, 42,100 acres. Adam Hamilton, Chairman. Jas. S. Jessep, Deputy-Chairman. Walter Bromley,") P. E. Climie, j 11 "" 1 " 5 ™- G. C. Godfrey, Member, and Commissioner of Unemployment.

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