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New Zealand Tablet, 18 April 1912, Page 36

On Tuesday afternoon of last week, Mr, S. Pickard, of Southbrook, had a trap horse killed by lightning.. When the storm came on he had just taken the horse out of the trap, leaving the harness on and' covering the animal with a horse-rug. It appears that the lightning was attracted by a buckle on the bridle, and it made a mark right along the horse's body. v.- '.; Some interesting statistics in regard to employment were quoted by the Hon. G. Laurenson, Minister of Labor, when speaking at the Trades Councils' Conference at Wellington on Wednesday. The figures, he said, had "been prepared by the Labor Department, and were mainly estimated. In 1911 there were 44,480 employers of labor in : the 'Dominion, 52,064 " persons in business but not employing assistants, 237,225 persons working for salary or wages, 22,948 relatives assisting employers, making a total of 356,717 persons engaged in production or distribution. In 1906~there were 8281 persons, or 3| per cent., out of employment. The figures for 1911 were not yet available, but he felt certain that they would disclose a more favorable condition. - ; The occupations were classified as follow:—Engaged in farming or mining pursuits, 123,906 persons shipping, railways, and transport, 31,000; shops and warehouses, 47,000; manufacturing, 135,000. : - ! -v