H.—lla.

Placements are conditional upon the farmer agreeing to— (a) Pay a weekly wage at a rate not less than the rates set out in the Agricultural Workers' Act, 1936, and Fixation Orders of 1937 and 1938, and to observe generally other conditions of the Act; (b) Accept statutory liability for accident; (c) Provide free board and lodging or an allowance in lieu thereof; (d) Train the workers solely in farm-work upon the farmer's own property ; and (e) Furnish a certificate of service at termination of worker's engagement (not less than six months). A subsidy of £1 per man per week, ordinarily for a maximum period of six months, is payable on the wages of inexperienced, men employed on sheep-farms and on dairy-farms which are carrying not fewer than ten milking-cows and from which the yield of milk or cream is sold or otherwise disposed of in the course of business. In fixing the duration of the subsidy assistance at six months the view has been taken that the services of the worker should at the end of this period be worth to the farmer at least minimum statutory wages. In exceptional cases it may happen that after a period of six months' training a worker's services are not worth the statutory wages, and if this can be established to the satisfaction of the Department an extension of the training-period, for a maximum further period of three months, is permitted, the rate of subsidy during such term of extended training being 10s. per week. Although the scheme affords farmers an excellent opportunity of meeting their labour requirements, it is disappointing to find that since its re-introduction only twenty-five placements have been made eighteen still being employed as at the 9th March (see Table V of Appendix). In view of the urgent demand for increased production and the necessity for placing additional labour on farms it has been decided to enlarge this scheme from 27th May, 1940, to provide for the placing of both single and. married inexperienced men twenty years of age and over irrespective of whether they are registered and eligible to receive an Unemployment Benefit. The period of training will now be twelve months, and the subsidy has been increased to 30s. per week for the first six months and 15s. per week for the second six months. In addition, a house allowance of 12s. 6d. per week will be provided to those married men who accept farming positions where married accommodation is not available, and who therefore have to remain distant from their homes. Provision is also made for the payment of a house allowance of 12s. 6d. per week to experienced married men who accept farm employment where lack of married accommodation necessitates separation from wife and family. The wages subsidy does not apply in respect of experienced men. Arrangements have been made to issue free fares to workers under the scheme who are required to travel over thirty miles to their employment. The efforts of the Department will now be energetically directed in an endeavour to divert all suitable men available to farm-productive work under this scheme. SCHEME No. 13: FULL-TIME EMPLOYMENT WITH LOCAL BODIES, ETC. To implement the policy of providing full-time employment for all fit unemployed men, subsidies under this scheme are made available to City and Borough Councils, County Councils, River and Drainage Boards, School Committees, sports bodies, and other social institutions not established for profit in respect of the employment of registered and eligible labour at award rates of pay on development works which would not be put in hand without State assistance. The works undertaken include the formation, widening, metalling, &c., of streets and roads ; footpath construction, kerbing, and channelling ; local-body water-supply and sewerage schemes ; land drainage, river clearing, riverprotection, &c. ; afforestation; formation, levelling, improvements, &c., to parks, reserves, domains, school grounds, hospital grounds, &c. ; flood damage restoration. The number of men employed under Scheme No. 13 at the 9th March, 1940, and the classes of work on which they were engaged, were as follows :— Streets, roads, and reserves .. .. .. .. .. .. 5 012 Drainage .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 337 River-protection .. .. .. .. .. .. . _ 592 Sewerage and water-supply schemes .. .. .. .. ~ 585 School-ground improvements .. .. .. .. ~ 551 Social amenities : Baths, &c. .. .. .. .. .. 269 Tree-planting .. .. .. .. .. .. _ _ 205 Land-development .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 102 Railway-works .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 223 Harbour-works .. .. .. .. .. .. ~ 121 Noxious-weeds eradication .. .. .. .. .. .. 35 Rabbiting .. .. .. .. .. ~ .. . 12 Miscellaneous .. .. .. .. .. ~ ~ 758 Total .. .. .. .. .. .. 9,412 The rate of subsidy is based on the minimum which will enable the work to be proceeded with and ranges from £1 10s. and £2 ss. per man-week for single and married men respectively, to, in some cases, the full wages-cost at the ordinary labourers' rate. Employing authorities are required to meet all other costs involved, including supervision, transport, insurance, tools, &c.

6