THE LABOUR MARKET.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 490, 24 April 1909, Page 5

THE LABOUR MARKET.

STATEMENT BY THE HONi Ai W; jHOGQ. ; Int TEi.EGitAri;—riii;aa , "A,SßnciA,Tio , l.V ' Auckland,. April 23. >•• The Hon.--A.; AV. Ho«g (Minister \for Labour), interviewed on hie (irnval inAiioklan'd to-day," gave ari ■ interesting statement in regard to conditions prevailing in . New Zealand from a labour iwint 'of view. "' ' "Since I have taken over tho portfolio of Labour," declared Mr. Hogg, "I consider that the conditions of the laboilt market have been exceedingly satisfactory) notwithstanding the fact that we havo had to contond with something of an unemployed difficulty, which to a greater or lessor extent prevails every winter. :Vory 'few urgent oasos for relief or assistance havo come- under my notice, and those matters which have forced themselves on my attention I havo had no difficulty in contending with. Some of tho new arrivals ■ from the Old Country, not acquainted with farming or agricultural work, .find some difficulty in obtaining employment, especially mon confined to a knowlcdgo of a single trade. If under such circumstanced they are willing to accept pick and shovel work, tho Publio Works Department can generally find something for them to do. ,' "On the roads of this country at tho presont time," continued the, Minister for Labour, "thorc are just 5000 men working under tho Roads and Bridges Department. Although we aro rapidly exhausting tho votes, amounting to nearly three-quarters of a million. I am making every effort to keep men employed, especially when they aro engaged advantageously upon work of an urgent nature that will Ik> of practical use to tho sottlers of this country/ , ;