THE LABOR MARKET.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2111, 20 June 1907, Page 2

THE LABOR MARKET.

“AVliat is tlio state of the local labor market P” quoriod a 'limes reporter of Mr. J. Georgeson, the Poverty Bay Inspector of lactones aud Labor Department’s representative. “Well, fairly quiet as, regards my office,” ho replied. “Tliero are very few men in search of - employment here, and on tho other hand there is no great demand for labor. I lie building trade is an exception—gli the contractors have a lot of work on hand, and find it difficult to obtain men, in addition to which some are inconvenienced by the scarcity or timber and bricks. A few days ago application was made to me for carpenters, but I had no names on my look, and therefore telegraphed to the Department at Auckland and Wellington. I received a reply from both inspectors to the. effect that there were no men available, as ample employment in the building trade was offered in both cities. The plumbing trade is also very brisk, and I export that with the advent of the waterworks local tradesmen will have more work than they can cope with. So far as laborers are concerned there is at present a fair amount of work to absorb all the men offering.’ “Do employers make good use or this office?” queried tho newspaper

; man. . , . ... “I have been successful m suiting ! a good many employers and employees,” Mr. Georgeson replied, 1 but it ’ is not always possible to place vour hands on tradesmen when required. As regards laborers, farm hands, and - bushmen, I have generally been able • to find men when application has . been made to me. Some employers 5 do not bother to lot me know when ’ the” are in want of men, whilst oth- , ors in search of employment don’t record their names.” “You moan that more use could bo

made of the Department?”—“Yes. You have mentioned the reported scarcity of farm laborers. If farmers •ring nio up on tho telephone I will endeavor to get any class of labor they need. Of course, I may not at tlie time have anv names registered locally, but there may be a surplus somewhere else, and one of the Department’s aims is to place men in the way of , getting employment. ■What about shearers? Well, they come under a different heading altogether, and have their regular sheds. I don’t think we can afford any help in that direction —it ip a problem for the farmers to elucidate.” Mr. Georgeson agreed with the reporter that the Department’s bulletins re the state of trade and tlie.labor market in the various districts were somewhat belated when they appeared locally. The reason was that the departmental reports were only issued monthly. To affprd. information, as regarded this district, more promptly, fee was willing to supply the newspapers with copies of his report as soon as forwarded to Wellington.