SHORTAGE OF LABOUR

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 277, 19 August 1919, Page 5

SHORTAGE OF LABOUR

DISCUSSED BY INDUSTRIAL

ASSOCIATION

IMMIGRATION SCHEME ADVOCATED

Mr. H. Mainland (president) occupied the chair at the monthly meeting of the Wellington Industrial Association, held in the association's rooms last evening. In the report of a standing oommitteo it was stated that approval was given to the proposal to prosecute a publicity campaign in favour of New Zealandmanufactured goods, which in many instances were superior to those imported. Tho committee is to report on this subject fully at the next meeting ot the association. The Standing Committee had also under consideration a resolution from the Auckland Association to the effect that the Government should prosecute on active scheme of immigration in respect to female labour in tho interests of industries depending upon such labour in New Zealand*. The Standing Committed found that it could not favour such a scheme, and proposed that it should be discussed at last evening's meeting. The Auckland Association also wished a 6eries of resolutions bearing on the question to be plnced beforo tho Government'by a deputation from the New Zealand Industrial Association. The committee thought this was rather a "big bill," and recalled what was done on a previous occasion somo years ago, when a circular was sent out to various employers of labour. Answers of only a fairly satisfactory character were received, and the matter was placed beforo the Minister of Labour of that time,-, with the usual reply, thai it would ba Icept steadily in view. Under instructions from the chairman the secretary (Mr. H. F. Allen) wrote to Miss M'Lean for information as to whnt female labour was arriving in the country. Tho letter received in response was as follows:—

"I haveto inform you that owin£ to tho shipping conditions which existed during the -war, it 'has\ not been possible to arrange for parties of domestic workers to proceed to the Dominion as in prewar times. I would mention that, on application to tho High Commissioner for New Zealand, tho Strand, London, domestic workers can obtain Tteo passages to the Dominion-if they can satisfy tho ■High Commissioner that they are at tho time employed as domestic servants and pass the usual raedicr.l examination. Applicants must alsoagree to enter into and remain in domestic service for a period of twelvo months after their arrival in the. Dominion. It is not anticipated, however, that shipping spaco will bo available for this class of immigrant until early .in the'new year. With regard to femalo employment in the factories, I have.to state that there aro no Gpeflial rates available for such persons. Tho only way, at the present time, to obtain labour; of this description. is under the nominated system of reduced rate' passagesj whereby persons, resident in tho Dominion may nominate relatives (by blood or marriage) Tesiding in the United Kingdom for assisted passage through • tho Department.—l am, etc., (Sgd.) H. D. Thomson, Chief tm< migration Officer. The chairman said that it was a very big question for thorn to consider at such a meeting;. Why there was such a shortage of factory labour could not very well be explained, as their faotory laws were probably the best in tho world, but it seemed to him that tho girls preferred to go in for clerical work.

Mr. L. R. Partridge said that it would bo .found on inquiry that the shortage of labour was general. It applied to every walk of life, and he thought they would be on safer ground if they "advocated a general scheme whereby families would be induced to come to tho Dominion rather than the particular scheme advocated by Auckland.

Mr.' MTjeay said that the Match Company's experience in importing girls to work in tho factor)- had been a sad one, and tlioy certainly would not act in the same manner again. ..He said that they were short of girl labour at tho present time. Sir. C. J. Ward said that they had imported girls from the Old - Country from time to timo for tho boot trade. Thoy found that the girls' ideas changed when they came out, and many of them got married,' and no matter what contract they had with them it was broken •when they married. . " On the motion • of. Mj\ Partridge, it ■was decided that tho association should advocate a general' immigration scheme in order to relieve the present shortage of labour, in New Zealand.