LABOUR CONDITIONS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3085, 6 January 1909, Page 3

LABOUR CONDITIONS.

THE DEPARTMENT'S EXPERIENCES. A YEAR OF FLUCTUATION. At the suggestion of an " Evening Post" representative, a State Labour Department official has prepared a summary of its experiences of labour conditions throughout New Zealand during the states that labuur conditions were—taken as a whole —not so good as in previous years. The period opened well, sawmill-hands, bushrellers, navvies, and farm hands being in general demand, while the whole of the skilled trades, with the exception of engineering, were reported as being brisk. The building trades in the earlier part of the year were very busy in all branches, and in March and April last a difficulty was experienced in getting capable tradesmen. This also applied to the furniture trades. During May, however, signs of slackness appeared, the trades affected being the building and engineering. The latter was reported as exceedingly dull, with little prospect of immediate improvement. In addition, the coachbuilding and tailoring trades had a period of dullness during the winter months. The sawmills in the country districts also curtailed their output; some mills only worked a few days per week, whilst others closed down altogether. Towards the close of the year the condition of the building trades, with the exception of painting, remained dull, but engineering shows signs of improvement on previous conditions. During the\ whole year the bootmaking and clothing trades were reported as being very busy, and a considerate amount of overtime was worked in these trades. The Department has been able to assist all able-bodied men to co-operative employment, and the demand for milkers and farm hands has during the summer months exceeded the applications made. IMMIGRANTS. The. arrival of very large numbers of immigrants from over seas has been a noticeable teature, but it is pleasing to say that, with the excepI tion of tradesmen sue'- as engineers, carpenters and joiners, and men trained in clerical pursuits, the department has had little or no diffi"culty in placing them in work. The majority of the immigrants have i come to" New Zealand owing to trade depressions in Great Britain and in , ' South Africa, and have not been, as ' has been generally stated, selected jby the New Zealand High Commissioner's Office in London. | WOMEN'S WORK. i In June, 1908, the Minister for ' Labour (Hon. J. A. Millar) established in the four chiet centre? em- . ployment branches to deal with the ' engagement of women workers. j Right from the inception of these ' offices the work done has exceeded expectations. Intne first six months, ending in December last, nearly 1,500 women workers have been as- ' sisted to employment. The demand for capable domestics has greatly exceeded the supply, and any woman able to do this work, or kindred , work has been found immediate employment. A steady increase in ; wages has been offered by mis- ■ tresses, and more facilities are ' given in the way of time off and holi] days than obtained formerly. The Department has also assisted, in a lesser degree, some skilled women — such as nurses, typistes, tai!ore3ses, and dressmakers-to obtain employment. THE FUTURE. The outlook just now is fairly bright. Harvesting is about to commence, and all through the Dominion the reports received st'jte that n exceptional season has been experienced by farmers. At no time during the history of the Department bave private employers availed themselves so largely of the assistance offered to secure workmen, and the result is shown in the fact that the number of men sent to private employment during 1908 largely exceeded that of any previous year.