CONDITIONS IN INDUSTRY

Hokitika Guardian, 21 September 1929, Page 6

CONDITIONS IN INDUSTRY

FACTORIES DECREASE. PEACEFUL LABOUR YEAR. WELLINGTON, /Sept. 19. Though the movement is not considered very marked, the Labour Department records a decrease of 105 in the number of factories registered tin 1928-29, the number being 16,677. Workers who number 162,795, increased by 173. While other countries show a considerable development, in the direction of large scale factories and other works there has been no such tendency in New Zealand, in butter and choose factories. 'notably in the Waikato. It is urged in Australia,and elsewhere that manufacturers cannot expect to be able to compete with those in other countries unless they 'adopt similar methods, lip New Zealand the tendency has ;been in the opposite direction, quite a large number of factory workers having opened small establishments for themselves, either in preference to- remaining as employees or.on account of losing their positions.

A WAR EFFECT. It is disclosed that the number of boys and girls shortly reaching working age is appreciably diminished as a result of the war years. Inquiry from the Government Statistician shows that, assuming that pre-war birth-rates per 1000 and other usual conditions had continued to the present time (including mortality rates and immigration),’ there will shortly be in all about V ,000 fewer boys and girls reaching the age of fourteen years than if the war had not occurred. The peak year (in which the effect of this loss of potential population would be at its greatest) should be in 1933, and tit will be interesting, remarks the report, to note from the present year to that time what effect this loss of potential population will have on the numbers of hoys and girls available for industry.

The industrial year lias .been peaceful, 94 per cent of disputes submitted to Commissioners and the Conciliation Councils having been substantially rby them. Y\' ges in •> number of important t — cl os jure icoir 1 Tasted with award rates the r'”'" ,, r expressing the opinion i whil» for a number of years the rates '•rally paid frequently exceeded award rates, the wages now being paid tend to fall towards award rates.

Of 270 industrial disturbances, 248 occurred among shinning and waterside workers, miners and freezing workers, and the remaining 28 (10 per cent) in 14 other industries. The number of working days lost per 1000 of population through New Zealand strikes or lock-outs is nine. Now South Wales on the same basis of comparison shows 478 days’ losses.