The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 1928.

Hokitika Guardian, 1 November 1928, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 1928.

SOME ASPECTS OF EMPLOYMENT. Jt is customary to speak of tlie Labour situation in relation to the unemployment prevailing. But it would appear it to 1)0 more in keeping with the fitness of things to study the subject from the positive rather than the negative side with a view to ascertaining what could or should he done towards creating more avenues for employment and a greater opening for the increasing volume of labour offering in all ranks as the country develops. Apart from the additional arrivals in the country, there is the natural increase in population, and as time goes on year by year, young people are stepping out into the world and seeking work and steady employment. A correspondent writes to a Dunedin paper on this particular aspect, and puts it in a way which will he appreciated l>v parents generally, and particularly in the smaller centres where the openings for lucrative employment are very circumscribed. fie writes: “And what is the position as regards the youth who have left, and are leaving, school each year? We find the avenues to employment effectually blocked by a small section of the community. There are thousands of young people throughout the land growing up. without the training or experience necessary to earn a living for themselves.” 'Phis is a very present issue in this problem of employment. There are some who blame the ramifications of the Arbitration Court, because prompted by unionism, certain restrictions have been placed on apprentice labour which is a serious brake on the more liberal employment of youths in skilled industries. Indeed the evil which has arisen may be laid in the main at the door of the arbitration system, because under pressure from the unions the Court has imposed conditions upon industry that operate in a two fold .manner against the admission of boys to the training and experience that are necessary to enable them to become qualified tradesmen. The restrictions upon the engagement of apprentices narrow the avenues of employment, and the wages that are prescribed for beginners are in many instances fixed at such absurdly high amounts as to-di scon rage employment. The regulation of the conditions of employment in industry, has. however been entrusted to industrial tribunals. Certain broad principles are laid down

in the legislation concerning factories and shops and offices, hut the details Unit must lx; observed in the management of industrial enterprise in all the classes of employment that come within the scope of the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act are settled by the appropriate tribunals. How can it be otherwise ? if, says a criticism of the matter, the arbitration law is worth preserving, the institutions that have been established under it should he free from political interference in the discharge of the rcsponsioilities remitted to them. The moment interference of that kind is accomplished, in that moment the influence of the industrial tribunals is impaired. In these circumstances the relief from the obstruct ions that have been placed in the way of employment for lads as they leave school must he applied by the Arbitration Court upon representation of the hardship that is now imposed upon large numbers of the growing manhood of the community. Another condition that is operating against the employment of hoys in certain occupations is of tremendous import. It arises out of the industrial emancipation-—if “emancipation” is the correct word to use—of women that constitute one of the most striking developments of modern times. Upon a conservative estimate there must be hundreds of girls in each of the larger towns in the Dominion filling places that would formerly have been occupied by boys. The displacement of boys that has occurred must inevitably have a distinctly disturbing effect in the economic sense and must necessitate readjustments, the precise nature of which may as yet be more or less obscure.