H.—llA.

1942. NEW ZEALAND.

NATIONAL SERVICE DEPARTMENT: EMPLOYMENT DIVISION. REPORT OF THE CONTROLLER OF EMPLOYMENT.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

REPORT.

To the Hon. the Minister of Labour. National Service Department, Sxr ; —- Wellington, 30th June, 1942. I have the honour to present herewith for the information of His Excellency the GovernorGeneral the report upon the activities of the Employment Division, covering the year Ist April, 1941 to 31st March, 1942, except where otherwise indicated. I have, &c., A. J. Ridler, Controller of Employment. ADMINISTRATION. The Employment Division's activities during the year under review in so far as they relate to employment-promotion measures have been curtailed with the falling off in the numbers of men requiring assistance. At the same time, the staffs generally have been working at high pressure, particularly in district offices, in view of the general expansion in relation to rehabilitation and man-power (industrial) work. This report deals only with the employment-promotion schemes and the State Placement Service which come directly under the jurisdiction of the Minister of Labour, the other activities of the Division being the responsibility of the Minister of National Service. The administration generally, together with the schemes in operation, are as outlined in last year's annual report. FINANCIAL. Provision for expenditure incurred in the promotion of employment is subject to appropriation by Parliament in terms of the Public Revenues Act, 1926, and during the year under review the sum of £1,604,287 (gross) was appropriated from the Consolidated Fund under vote, " Labour," for this purpose. As the amount appropriated included £104,287 (gross) to cover the administration expenses of the Employment Division of the National Service Department, provision was made for the net administration expenses in connection with the employment-promotion schemes and the State Placement Service to be recovered from vote, " National Service." The net payments during the year ended 31st March, 1942, and corresponding figures for the previous year, including administration expenses recovered from vote, " National Service," were as follows 1041-42. 1940-41. Employment-promotion schemes— £ £ £ £ Scheme No. 4b .. .. 158,206 296,274 Scheme No. 4r .. .. 8,863 20,145 Scheme No. 13 .. .. 1,095,770 2,089,422 Scheme No. 16 .. .. 4,422 ,12,318 Scheme No. 16a .. .. 606 577 Insurance of workers .. 657 3,082 Transport of workers .. 1,042 l, 567 Youths farm settlement .. 345 826 Miscellaneous .. .. 3,145 7,647 Rural housing bonus .. .. 15,376 928 — 1,288,432 ___— 2,412,786 Administration expenses .. .. .. 97,162 ... 100,814 £1,385,594 £2,513,600 It will be seen from the above statement that the total-expenditure under the employment-promotion schemes during the year ended 31st March, 1941, was £2,412,786, as compared with £1,288,432 during the year under review, a reduction of £1,124,354.