WELLINGTON NOTES.

Hokitika Guardian, 30 November 1917, Page 4

WELLINGTON NOTES.

LABOUR SUPPLY, NEED FOR DISTRIBUTION. (Our Special Correspondent) Wellington, Nov 28. The statement b3' the Chairman of the Efficienc3' Board to the effect that there is no urgent demand by farmers for school-boy' labour during the holiday season confirms the predictions of people conversant with the facts of the situation. Of course a ceitain number of boys will find employment in the harvest fields, as they have done for main' years past, but, general^' speaking, the farmers are relying upon the casual labour which has served them in previous seasons. The supply' of workers lias been reduced to some extent by enlistment, but the main effect of this lias been to draw men from the country into the towns during the winter months. With the return of summer and witli better wages offering numbers of these will return to tlieir former occupations. Already there has been a small exodus from the Wellington wharves, where farm workers have found the conditions not halt so attractive as the}' appeared to be at a distance, and maii3' of the men are going back to their old places in the shearing sheds and the harvest fields. THE LABOUR VIEW. , The real need of the hour is not so much more men as it is easier and cheaper means of transit—some organised scheme by which workers and the jobs awaiting them might be brought together. The reports coming from North of Auckland, for instance, indicate that a thousand willing workers, not necessarih' experienced farm hands, might find permanent employment in the district at good wages, -but the cost of getting to the North of Auckland is very considerable and the empkwer does not care to pay a man’s travelling expenses in advance without having some idea of what he will get for his money.,

A prominent figure in labour circles here, when consulted about the matter said that such difficulties as existed arose out of the disinclination of|the Government and the farmers to co-operate with the Unions. There was no surplus labour 111 the county, but there was sufficient to supph' all the needs of the employers if it were properly utilised. If the Government and the employers would arrange between them for their distribution the Unions would see that suitable men were forthcoming. PIPES BARRED. Nothing could be more admirable than the zeal with which the Mayor, Mrs Luke and their,.army of lady helpers have devoted themselves to the promotion o( the welfare of soldiers coming to Wellington, going away or sojourning here. Now they have taken a fresh enterprise in hand, in the shape of “free and eas3' ” smoke concerts - in the Town Hall, for the benefit of the men who may be spending the week-end in the city with the hotel bars closed against them after six o'clock. All entertainment, free to soldiers auej. their lad}' guests, will be provided every Saturday night, and refreshments will be "supplied by Mrs Luke and her ladies’ committee at a merely nominal charge. But there is a restriction upon the ‘free and eas3'” entertainment which some of the men are taking sadL' to heart. Pipes’ are barred. The soldiers will be permitted to smoke cigarettes or cigars, and the lad> r guests, so the newspaper announcement runs, must be pre pared for this contingency, but pipes will be off. Obviously-Mr Luke is not a smoker. , THE IMPENDING BY-ELECTION.

There are 110 fresh developments in connection with the impending by-election for the Wellington North seat, but it seems fairly certain there will be three calididates in the field and possibly there will be four. Many of the Hon A. L. Herdmau’s personal friends and political supporters are not pleased at the prospect of Mr Luke stepping into the present member’s shoes and are reported to have made representations to the Prime Minister which cannot be well ignored. That the constituency is a Reform one in sentiment there can be little doubt in view of the results of recent elections, and even if the Liberals were free to contest it the}' would have only a remote chance of success ; but with two Reform candidates going to the poll an inde-pendent-candidate pledged to port the National Government, and the ’ vigorous prosecution of the Dominion’s share in the war might upset the intentions of the party truce. It i is -being whispered about town to-day that a local solicitor, who would be a distinct acquisition to the House, is prepared to undertake this role.