THE LABOUR MARKET

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2531, 4 August 1915, Page 2

THE LABOUR MARKET

SATISFACTORY REPORT FOR THE YEAR Tile annual report of the Labour Department states that several trades, notably the leather trades, were kept exceptionally busy through the demands of the Reinforcements; and, indeed, all skilled trades had been kept steadily busy since October last, l'or the primary industries there had been a. particularly busy season, and labour has been difficult to find at times. Owing to the number of men from t'he country who had gone to thd front, the position was one calling for early action to ensure that the crops would be garnered without undue delay.

There was an increase of 468 in the number of factories registered compared with the previous year. The number ot' workers had not increased: in usual proportion, the advance totalling only 1295. Tlie increase in the number of factories was, no doubt, partly due to the growing practice of some of the larger clothing factories and drapery establishments, when sufficient labour had not been obtainable. of giving out .work. There were many houses registered as "workrooms," where a woman, alone or perhaps with her daughter, did short-mak-ing, trouser machining, etc. In Auckland 1761 factories, in Wellington 1144, Christchurch 1282, and Dunedin 1115. The number of prosecutions und'er the Shops and Offices Act during the year had diminished by one-half.

..There were four strikes of minor importance during the year—Bricklayers (Auckland), cheese factory workers (Greytown), general labourers (Westport), and s.s. Maori's firemen. Thirty-five new unions of workers were registered during the year, comprising 1514 workers. The total expenditure for the year of tlie Councils ot Conciliation was £3728; and of'tlie Arbitration Court £4234 (this amount included the salaries of the Commissioners, £1500, and the members of the Court, £2800). In regard to women workers, the leport states that there are scores of positions available* at good wages. At Nelson, as much as £1 10s. to £2 per week can bo earned at fruit-grading. There are 57 workers' dwellings in Wellington, and a further 11 are almost completed. At Petone there are 28, and three more will shortly be built.