TOPICAL READING.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9561, 6 August 1909, Page 4

TOPICAL READING.

LABOUR PROBLEMS. It is a singular fact, and one that should, if possible, be remedied that New Zealand has the largest preponderance of male over population of any part of the Empi»e. In other roußlries the position is reversed, and there are always to be found more women than men in the cornur.ity. Thus in Great Britain we find a population <of one 93 males to every 100 female?, while m Australia there are 111£ males to 100 ferrals and in the Dominion nearly 113 males to 100 females. Under such conditions, it need hardly be pointed out, it becomes largely a '"natter cf choice what fornp cf work will attract the greatest supply of fema|e worker?. If thi-i is felt to be an evil, says the Auckland "Herald." it would appear as though the remedy could only be effectually provided by specially encouraging the immigration of a desirable clas.s of women to swell the ranks of, the fem jl-3 workers of the Dsminion. LABOUR EXCHANGES, i iThe Labour Exchange Bill has been read a third time in the House of Commons, in explaining the provi-, sions of the Bill, nn its introduction on May 21st, Mr Churchill said that the labour exchanges would cost £200,000 per annum at the outset, and subsequently £170,00(1. The' country would be i to ten divisions, each with a clearing-'-nuse, and.London, which would supply a nation-il ebari»ghouse. There wouJ.l be between 30 and 40 first-class extowns with'at population of 100,000 3nd upwards; 45 secondclass exchanges for towns of between 50,000 and 100,000; and a number of sub-offices in the smaller towns. Advisory committe.es would be appointed in the chief centres, on which workmen and would meet in equal numbers. Impartial permanent officials would be 1 chairmen of the committees. The ; Government's scheme of compulsory :ontributory insurance against unemployment was next explained by Mr Churchill. The scheme would become jperative in 1911 in selected trades •epresenting two and a-quarter milion adults, covering the worst half >f t?lie field of unemployment, slightly under Gd a week per man vould be raised by contributions by workmen, employei's, and the Statp. len applying to the exchange would ither be given work or paid a enefit sum.