LABOUR REPORT.

Hokitika Guardian, 4 September 1924, Page 1

LABOUR REPORT.

AVELLINCTON. Sept. 2. In the winter of 11122 New Zealand was at the worst point of a period of depression. By the following winter conditions had improved, the employment diliieulty being only halt that of the preceding year, w hile last wintel. according to the Labour Department the country had passed through a most serious crisis, unemployment rising to nTT in June.

Labourers comprise over ol) per cent, of the present applicants and the remainder include clerks 27, cooks, stewards. etc. 37. drivers 23. engineers 30. farm hands 11. seamen and firemen 18. with other (iccupatinns in smaller num-h'-is. It will lie again noticed that, with the exception of engineers and motormcelmuic.s, none ol the skilled trades in which ajiprcntii-eship periods are required shows any degree of unemployment. The Public Works Dejiartment made the usual arrangements for placing tin* more necessitous eases oil public works for the winter months. Added *lo this, local bodies throughout New Zealand have taken up the work of ofl'pcliug street and road alterations, putting in electric power stations, tramwav extensions and making improvements to parks and reserves. “As a result of the liberation, tlymigh the State Advances Department. of large sums for houses the building trade lias been more active than at any time since 1911 and an increased number ot men were, ill consequence engaged in this industry.” The larg" inijioitnUon of hoots during 11)23-2-1. however, has had a depressing effect on the hunt manufacturing trade, per* ol the largest and newest factorie." in New Zealand I cing closed down for several weeks, while others have been working short time since lust September. DOMINION FACTORIES.

In New Zealnd factories are slowly increasing (lie number of workers, the picsent total. 97.731. showing a 1 0.000 increase over the year 191-1. Last year it was observed that there was a large decrease in the numlier of workers employed in factories in New Zealand. This vear there is an increase of 7.123 and the number of factories has increased hy 471. The Sealfolding Inspection Act has been in force for over a year, covering a much wider liehl o! building iqi'Crntioiis than previously. Builders and users of scalfoldiug“are found on the whole, to give the regulations careful attention. There were IS I accidents. increase of 3!l on the previous year. The number of accidents in pl'opnrt iim to tin* number ol jobs, shows, however, considerable reduction. It can h:> safely stated that the clfcct ol the enlarging sphere of inspection work on all buildings and excavations where accidents ai" likelv to occur has been a considerable diminution in the number di' accidents. Prosecutions numbered ol), compared with 19 in the jirevious APPRENTICESHIP. The Department's rejio.rt suggests, in conned ion with the new A jiprcnt n-c---->hi|:. Act. that the eniplovers’ nml workers’ committees will ill practice become the hacklsiue of tho Act. as they iiiiiv l:c given full power, in their respective trades and localites, to administer tin* Act for themselves, with the Court of Arbitrnion. however, as a general emt rolling authority. and court, of appeal. The success of the \d. no doubt. will largely dcneml n|>in the :i|ipnintmciil of suitable men. who will look to the ultimate interest of their trades and to the public welfare generally. , , A table relating to tin* |ir:mmnl trades shows that the picsent number of njiprentices is (i'Jt)l. hut the number allowable, without exceeding the maximum fixed in awards, is 8022. (to the basis ol an investigation "I oilcndiiig careers ol hoy- leal ing a number ol j»rim:ny sehnnls. the .‘secretary of l/ihour states: “If the figures are typical of the re-t of the schools R cm readily he seen that the wishes of the hays lie. In a very great extent, in directions in which they are not likelv to he required, while important primary and secondary industries, w hieli now employ nearly Iwn-tliilds ol 11,,. male working pnpnlat ion, would only 31 |ier cent, of the hoys." This information suji|)orls the conclusidi of the commit lee. in its report. Unit the education system, in the |>ast. lias given hay- a basis ill la\our of commercial and luolcssional occupations to the d"l rimonl nl Hi" Dominion'- industries. Mild Hull tin’ question ot an alteration to the system should Le considered.