H.—lla.

Registrations in the higher age groups again approximate 50 per cent, of the total number, and it is the women in those groups who present the greatest difficulty in placing in employment. Of the total of 265 registrations it is estimated by the committees that approximately eighty, or 30 per cent., are unfit for ordinary employment due to physical disabilities, &c. Undoubtedly, many of these were provided for by Hospital Boards prior to the introduction of special unemployment assistance for females, and it appears likely that a number will be assisted by way of pensions or otherwise when the Government's social security proposals become operative. The committees have all commented that there is a constant demand for capable domestic worker? and that no young woman or girl need be out of employment who is suitable and willing to take up domestic work. Although the problem of dealing with the unemployment of women and girls is almost dormant at the moment, the operations of the committees give valuable data in various aspects. It has been claimed on many occasions that unemployed women and girls should be provided with relief direct by the employment bureaux of this Department, but in view of the satisfactory results achieved under existing arrangements it is clear that no change at present is justified. SCOPE OF ACTIVITIES OF THE EMPLOYMENT DIVISION. Although these were described in full in the previous year's report, it is not inappropriate to record again a resume of the wide variety of functions exercised by the Employment Division. In general terms the main activities are (a) The administration of relief for unemployed persons. (b) The promotion of work and industries for the absorption of surplus labour. (c) The placing in close' contact of possible employers with employees through the medium of the State Placement Service. The following tabulation briefly sets out the extensive field of operations falling within the main activities referred to above :— (1) General administration of Employment Promotion Fund, entailing operation of Head Office, bureaux controlled by permanent officers of the Department, and bureaux controlled by officers of the Post and Telegraph Department. (2) Registration of unemployed. (3) Calculation and payment of — (i) Sustenance, with work in return ; and (ii) Sustenance, without work in return, to (a) war pensioners, (b) invalidity pensioners, (c) economic pensioners, (d) waterside workers, (e) railways good-shed workers, (/) freezing-works workers, (g) general intermittent workers, and (h) other unemployed persons. (4) Issue of supplementary relief in the form of — (i) Rations. (ii) Boots. (iii) Blankets. (5) Payment of relief during sickness. (6) Payment of subsidies for full-time work at award rates. (7) Organization of rotational plan of works. (8) Organized prospecting of gold-bearing areas under properly qualified mining engineers and geologists and properly supervised gold-winning operations. (9) Maori unemployment — (i) Grants to Native Department. (ii) Issue of coupons for rations to Natives on sustenance. (10) Youth employment — (i) Special campaign for absorption of those between eighteen and twenty-five years of age. (ii) Subsidized training in building and related trades. (11) Boy and girl employment : Establishment of special section operating in close co-operation with vocational-guidance officers of the Education Department (four special offices). (12) Operation of State Placement Service (twenty-four special offices). (13) Special efforts on behalf of physically disabled men. (14) Financial assistance to women's and girls' committees. (15) Vocational training of— (i) Youths between eighteen and twenty-five years. (ii) Physically disabled. (iii) Boys and girls. (16) Interviewing defaulters in respect of employment tax. (17) Prosecutions in respect of employment-tax defaulters and of persons defrauding the Fund, and general legal work relative to the various schemes. (18) Verification of circumstances of applicants for relief benefits. (19) Issue of transport orders, tools, equipment, &c. (20) Grants towards improvements of school buildings and grounds. (21) Insurance of certain classes of workers. (22) Cash grants for assistance of men proceeding to distant full-time employment. (23) Flood damage relief (and rehabilitation of affected properties).

16