SCARCITY OF LABOUR.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 69, 14 December 1907, Page 6

SCARCITY OF LABOUR.

LEADING INDUSTRIES -AFFECTED

The allegations made by- the writer of The Dominion's series of special articles on tho scarcity of labour arc supported by some information which has just come to hand from a roliable source. Inquiries were pa lo recently in the four chief citios ns to tho number of workers required in the prin-, cipal industries. Tho estimate was intended to be a very cautious, one: but it goes to shofr that at least 2500 are wanted in the four centres. Details aVe as follow:—

Tailoressos (factory), . 500, (shop), 40; woollen mill operatives (females), 200, (males), 50;' dressmakers and milliners, 150; coal miners, 500; boot operatives (females), 100'; boot'machinists (fomnlesl, 40; gold miners,- 100; coaehbuildors and whc'elwrigTits, 25; ongineers, boilermakers, brassfounders and coppersmiths, 50; butchers, 50; foilmongers, 15; laundry, workers (females), 150.

In regard to dressmaking it is stated that many who are not really competent are out of work,' but the demand is for thoroughly efficient/ dressmakers. The demand for coal minors,' our informant stated, is likely to increase largely in the near future, owing to the opening of new mines. Tho Government, it is anticipated, will want 200 men for tho State coal mines, and there are other l mines, on the West Coast which are expected shortly to require largo numbers of workers. It is thought that tho numbers of females required.' as boot operatives and machinists have been underestimated in this statement and that a very large proportion of the 140 mentioned above could be at once employed in Wellington- alone. A Christchurch bootmaking firm has imported a number of women and girls trained to this work. . '

According to information . from the-same source there'is a great shortage of boy labout throughout the Dominion, and' it is stated that in the Wellington district alono there aro vacancies for 500 domestic servants. ■'.'•■'•' ,