THE LABOUR PROBLEM.

Thames Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 10348, 24 April 1911, Page 4

THE LABOUR PROBLEM.

IN vNtEtW, SIOOTH WAiLEB.

Numerous complaints have been made recently in Nfew South Wales of insufficient supplies of labour for many industries, bait inquiries made: iby the Intelligence and Labbur Dtv partments of the State show that the shortage is not ao acute as the employers have suggested. A brief statement of the conclusions readied by thei departmental officers was madta a wteelki agio ibty the Acting-Pre-mier, Mr Kfolma.ll. lie admitted that (heire appeared to. bie a, shortage of female lafbtour in factories, probably 'because girl si were being attracted more by home life than by industrial employment. Mr Holraan said, that this would! be n by no means, undesirable state of things were it not that a larger 1 proportion of thei working girls were drifting intoi offices 1 to undertake clerical work. The Government is convittded that there is a surplus of in ale lalbbur in many branches of employment. In one large brickworks -thei employees have ! been unable to earn full wages during the past six months, and many* 'brickmaker's and carters artel idle. \ The officers of the Labour Department stote that theirs is reason tn d'oubrti whether there is any lack of either skilled or unskilled lalbour in the iron trades, and in a great many special industries employer's can sefciure all the worker's they require. Thd greatest difficulty appears: to exist in the building and! manufacturing industries. Alt present, it is admitted, the demland for skilled lalboiu' is in excess of thei supply. Thd Government is convinced; that this is due largely to the breakdown of the apprenticeship system. Mr Hoimian says) that employer's have been too ready to avail themselves of what they have regarded as the advantages of boy laboau", and their want of care for the future has left them without adequate supplied of skilled labour. Batter conditions ar© Weans! provided for in a number of trades, and it is hoped that an improved system of continuation and technical classes will furnish a. l'cinedy for the existing 1 evils. Tile S^ate GoMernii'i.ent ia prepared to do what it can to assist the ■building" and manufacturing industries^ and

probably a commission will inquire; into their conditions, ibiufc Mk* llolman has made it clear that the Government cannot undertake any fresh expenditure on immigation.