H.—ll.

LXVIII

It is rather a slack time at present with hotel employees. In this trade it is sometimes very busy, and at other times the reverse, and hotel-workers do not care for private employment, nor are they suited for it; consequently, when they are unemployed they declare there are more girls in the Dominion than there is work for. If they would accept positions in private houses that difficulty would be overcome. The following table will show the employers and employees applying, and the number suited. During the nine months in which this branch has been opened applications have been received as follows : Employers, 1,579 ; workers, 733 ; employment found for 605 workers. It will be seen from this that the supply does not nearly meet the demand ; also, that the average of persons who have been found employment is very satisfactory indeed. It is hoped next year to do better, as the branch is gradually getting better known and more highly appreciated. The above numbers consist almost entirely of domestics. Some of those not suited were found employment later on, and others were quite unsuited for the class of employment they were seeking. We also have applications for any number of hat and cap makers, costume-makers, girls for jam and pickle factories, &c. Some of these trades have been badly pressed for hands for a good many months past. We hope in the coming year that girls suited for this class of work will apply to us, so that we may be enabled to assist them to employment, and to relieve employers of much anxiety on this account. We frequently have girls applying for positions in shops. We would be glad if employers in need of such help would apprise us of their wants, so that we could assist those applying. Applications Applications MsiBtantH from from nW P rI Employers. Assistants. P^cea. Generals .. .. .. .. ..915 343 331 Seamstress and tailoresses .. . . .. 5 5 5 Cooks .. .. .. .. ..167 106 66 Housemaids .. .. .. .. ..211 104 70 Housekeepers . . .. .. . . 39 34 25 Helps 90 32 24 Pantry-maids .. .. .. . . 15 10 8 Waitresses .. .. . . .. 16 28 20 Laundresses .. .. .. . . 38 7 5 Nurses .. .. .. .. ..30 17 13 Married couples .. .. .. ..25 25 23 Barmaids .. . . . . . . . . 5 5 5 Charwomen .. .. .. .. ..9 7 7 Factory hands (jam) .. . . .. 14 3 3 Clerk .. .. .. .. .... 1 Dairy-maids .. .. . . .. .... 4 Companion '.. . . .. .. .... 1 Nursery governess . . .. . . .... 1 * Totals .. .. .. 1,579 733 605 I have, &c, J. Mitchell, The Secretary, Department of Labour, Wellington. Officer in Charge. * Besides hat and cap makers, seamstresses, and costume-makers.

DUNEDIN. Sir, — Department of Labour (Women's Branch), Dunedin, 14th April, 1909. I have the honour to place before you a report of the operations of this branch of the Department for the year ending 31st March, 1909. The Women's Employment Bureau was opened on the Ist June, 1908, and since its inception the business has been steadily increasing. The applications received from employers number 1,276, and from the workers 732. Of these latter, 444 (95 married and 349 single) were placed in employment. Two thousand five hundred circulars setting out the advantages of the office were posted during the months of July and August, 1908, and in response quite a number of employers, resident in the country districts particularly, have applied to the, bureau for assistants. Requests have been frequently made to supply some immigrants ; but attempts in that direction, to say the least, have been disappointing, for, while several boats carrying immigrants were met, the few domestics on board have either been engaged prior to coming out, or were going to relatives living in various parts of the Dominion, and consequently were not prepared to take positions straight away. The scarcity of assistants in all branches of domestic work, particularly those who are capable of performing the general duties of the household—viz.. " generals "—has been keenly felt, more especially in the country districts. The tendency on the part of the workers is to obtain situations in or near to the town, and also in a good many cases in public places and institutions, so that the private employers and those in the outlying districts are put to considerable inconvenience through their inability to obtain assistants.