H.—lla,

Interesting is the movement shown in Group No. 14 (Vehicles, Manufacture of). In the period reviewed enrolments and re-enrolments totalled 1,313, and positions filled 292 only. Similar figures compiled in respect of the eleven months ended 31st December, 1938, new and re-enrolments (1,218) and positions filled (584) show clearly the contraction in employment in this industry. In the important Building and Construction Industry (Group 24) some slight contraction also appears to have taken place. Enrolments and re-enrolments totalling 8,237 are recorded during the nine months ended 30th. September, 1939, as against 9,445 during the eleven months ended 31st December, 1938. Placements in the same periods were 4,812 and 5,438. Both national and local-body public works show a marked falling off in placements in relation to enrolments and re-enrolments—a process undoubtedly associated with transfer of men from this sphere to other forms of employment. In the eleven months ended 31st December, 1938, enrolments and re-enrolments from both sources totalled 23,299, and placements stood at the figure of 28,569. For the nine months ended 30th September, 1939, these figures had fallen steeply to 15,689 new and re-enrolments and 7,036 placements. There has been also a considerable diminution in the number of placements in Group 35 (Commerce), these standing at 4,320 for the eleven months ended 31st December, 1938, and only 2,807 for the nine months period terminating on 30th September, 1939. On the other hand, over the two periods the total enrolments and re-enrolments from the industrial group were fairly stable at 11,756 in the first period as against 10,503 in the second. Farm-labour Provision. Especial attention has continued to be given by the Service to the labour-requirements of farmers. The centralized system of dovetailing Dominion farm vacancies with workers available has again been in operation during the period reviewed. Having regard to the limits imposed by an actual shortage of farm labour, this system has again brought very good results. The farmers' seasonal labour difficulties during the year, however, were again evident, and they were accentuated by the enlistment of a considerable number of rural workers. Accommodation shortage in rural areas continues to be one of the chief obstacles to the engagement of farm-workers, especially married men with families. Placement Service Officers have, as in past years, lost no opportunity of popularizing the Service with farmers. Every effort has been made to induce farmers to employ men under the subsidized farm-training Scheme No. 4f, but the results have not been as gratifying as was anticipated. In many cases complaints of a local unsatisfied demand for farm labour have been investigated, and on every occasion it has been found that the demand has been substantially overstated. It seems clear that there is a shortage of experienced farm labour of the type farmers prefer, and for whom suitable accommodation is available. Moreover, the disinclination of farmers generally to engage and train inexperienced labour in readiness for a pending season is especially evident, but it is hoped that the measures recently authorized by way of amendment of Scheme 4f and the provisions of the Rural Housing Act will afford the Placement Service greater opportunity for meeting the genuine demands. The Placement Service and the War. The prosecution of the Dominion's war effort has already involved radical adjustments in the manning of industry, and these can be expected to become more significant as the war continues. As the national clearing-house for labour the important responsibilities of the Placement Service in making the fullest possible industrial use of the services of all workers available are apparent. Accordingly the members of the Placement Service have been rendered exceptionally busy in investigating the industrial advisability of all Army enlistments which, under an arrangement concluded between the Army Department and the Man-power Organization, are referred to the Placement Service for inquiries. Where workers who have enlisted are called up for military service, the Placement Officer's efforts are applied to effect the necessary replacement from the available labour, male and female. Should the war be of prolonged duration the part which female labour in industry will play will prove of increasing importance. For this reason careful analyses are being made of disengaged female enrolees, and the resultant statistics compiled will show to what extent industry, depleted of a proportion of its male workers, can carry on without serious crippling of effort, GOVERNMENT YOUTH CENTRES. The year ended 31st March, 1940, is the second one in the life of the youth centres. As was to be expected, the year has been one of consolidation and also of extension in the regional scope of the centres' activities. Youth centres are operating in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Napier, while in Dunedin the Dunedin Vocational Guidance Association, a welfare organization, fully co-operates with the youth centre organization in carrying out youth placement work. At each of the four centres vocational guidance officers for both girls and boys (acting under the control of the Education Department) are in attendance while employment officers (representatives of the Labour Department) carry out the work of placement. It should be mentioned that a good deal of time is occupied by the officers attached to the youth centres in dealing with difficult or problem cases, and the statistics relating to youth placements do not therefore correctly reflect the effort expended in obtaining the results outlined in the relative statistical tables.

10