H.—ll.

1939. NEW ZEALAND.

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 ot? Labour. Department of Labour, Wellington, 24th July, 1939. Sir, — I have the honour to present herewith the forty-eighth 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, 1938, to 31st March, 1939. I have, &c., Henry E. Moston, Secretary of Labour. The Hon. the Minister of Labour.

EMPLOYMENT AND UNEMPLOYMENT IN FACTORIES. This report does not cover activities in connection with the Employment Promotion Fund. The tables embodied in this report show increases in the number of workers employed in factories, also a further increase in the number of factories registered. Many factory trades have found difficulty in obtaining sufficient skilled and semi-skilled workers to meet demands. A review of the number of permits issued to young persons to be employed in factories indicates the shortage of labour that exists, particularly in those factories where female labour is employed. The returns of apprentices employed in the skilled trades disclose a steady increase.

FACTORIES ACT.

I—H. 11.

Number of j | Number of ' Year. Factories Movement. Factory Movement, registered. 1 Workers. [ 1916-17 .. .. .. 12,455 759 (decrease) 78,188 4 823 (decreaseV 1926-27 .. .. .. 16,619 308 (increase) 103,404 1,083 (increase). 1927-28 .. .. .. 16,782 163 „ 102,622 782 (decrease). 1928-29 .. .. .. 16,677 105 (decrease) 102,795 173 (increase). 1929-30 .. .. .. 17,082 405 (increase) 104,448 1,653 „ 1930-31 .. .. .. 17,019 63 (decrease) 104,377 71 (decrease). 1931-32 .. .. .. 16,253 766 „ 89,932 14,445 1932-33 .. .. .. 16,176 77 „ 86,222 3,710 1933-34 .. .. .. 15,598 578 „ 85,968 254 1934-35 .. .. .. 15,900 302 (increase) 93,592 7,624 (increase). 1935-36 .. .. .. 16,434 534 „ 102,275 8,683 „ 1936-37 .. .. .. 17,126 692 „ 111,041 8,766 1937-38 .. .. .. 17,559 433 „ 123,551 12,510 1938-39 .. .. 17,842 283 „ 123,723 172 „ -•