THE LABOUR MARKET.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 13336, 30 January 1909, Page 8

THE LABOUR MARKET.

The only objection we have to make to the resolution in regard to the unemployed, which was carried at yesterday's meeting of the Industrial Association, at .the instance of Mr Frostick, is that it seems to us to be taking the position a little too seriously. An overseas visitor might imagine that the streets wcro filled with men seeking work and finding none, the fact being that while a number of carpenters, etc., are out of work just now, owing to the depression in tlie building trade, the prospects of obtaining employment here aro still enormously greater than in tlie United Kingdom. Nor do wo agree with rtho mover of the resolution that the principal, if not tho only cause of the slackness of employment—should such bo really found to exist—is tho "insane idea" of tho people to wear imported articles in preference to those locally made. Tho mere fact that the chief complaints of want ol work como from the building trade, which as entirely free from outside competition, is sufficient to prove that tho causes of the present pause in industrial activity Ho a liit.tlo deeper, and are rather more complicated than was brought out in yesterday's discussion. Building has been brought almost to a standstill, partly by the dearness of money, and partly by tho rise in the cost of labour and material. Tho check is not an unmixed evil, because if it had not come tho place would soon have been overbuilt at the rate at wihich new houses, etc., -were going up. The pause will no doubt continue until the cost of tho prime factors—money, material, and labour—comes down or an influx of population causes an unsatisfied demand for new dwellings. The truth is that no matter what are the political and social conditions provailing, no country, is free from occasional fluctuations in trade and employment. If Now Zealand consumers made up their minds to boycott every imported article which comes in competition with local productions it would no , doubt give increased employment .in the local factories for a time, but the conditions of supply and demand would soon readjust .themselves, and we should find

tho Dominion as sensitive asr ever to changes brought about by the dearness of money in the local market, the slackening of the demand for our exjjjonts, owing to the lack of employment in England, and the high cost of labour, duo in part to the nature of our industrial legislation. Lot it not be supposed that wo wish to undervalue tho work of the Industrial Association, o.' that wo demur to the doctrine that New Zealanders ought, as far as possible, to use goods of local manufacture. That is -a duty which cannot be too often inculcated. It is a mistake, however, to claim for the policy moro than it is able to accomplish, or to divert public attention from other facts having an intimate bearing on the prosperity of the., colony. While wo do not think that there is unemployment on a scale sufficient to call for the elaborate Commission of Enquiry proposed by the Industrial Association, still thero is no doubt as to the excellent constitution of tho tribunal proposed, and if it finds, as we have no doubt will bo the case, that the reports as to want of employment have been exaggerated-, its labours will at least have had the effect of clearing up the situation and reassuring tho public mind. .