1922.] Works for the Relief of Unemployment. 489 



There were 362 drainage (including sea-defence) schemes, and 

 48 water-supply schemes submitted and approved, making a 

 total estimated expenditure of nearly £400,000. Of these, 

 325 drainage or sea-defence schemes and 46 water-supply 

 schemes were actually carried out, providing employment for 

 about 150,000 men-weeks. The wage estimate in each case 

 was based upon the current agricultural rate prevailing in the 

 district, and in drainage and sea-defence schemes the expendi- 

 ture on tools and materials was restricted to about 20 per cent, 

 of the wage estimate. A small addition for local supervision 

 was also allowed. Of the actual total expenditure, however, 

 approximately 92 per cent, went in the wages of men previously 

 unemployed. , 



Divisional Areas. — For purposes of inspection and super- 

 vision, the country was divided into 6 areas as under : — 



Area iVo. Catchment Basins. 



1. The Ouse, including the counties of Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridge, 



Huntingdon and Bedford. 



2. The Weaver, Severn and Somersetshire rivers, and lands to the west 



thereof, including the whole of Wales. 



3. The Alt, Mersey and Yorkshire Ouse, and all lands to the north of 



their valleys. 



4. The Lower Trent, Derwent, Witham, Welland, Nene, Yare, Bure and 



Waveney. 



5. Lower Thames, Medway and the rivers of Suffolk, Essex, Kent and 



Sussex. 



6. Upper Trent, Upper Thames and such areas in the counties of 



Warwick, Gloucester, Wilts and Dorset as were not otherwise 

 included. 



Work was begun in November and continued with comparatively 

 little interruption from bad weather or other causes till towards 

 the end of March, which had been set as the time limit. It 

 soon became apparent, however, that an extension of the 

 period would be required. An extension was sanctioned, first 

 to the end of May and later to the 17th June in the case of 

 Drainage Authorities, and the 30th June in the case of County 

 Councils. 



A further extension of time was obtained in the case of 

 certain sea-defence works on the Lincolnshire coast, involving 

 an expenditure of ;£40,000 and providing employment for about 

 500 men. This work may not be finished much before the end 

 of October next. In this case 50 per cent, of the cost of the 

 scheme is to be repaid. 



Results. — Having regard to the general conditions under 

 which the work was to be done, viz., by men who were 



