BUREAU OF INDUSTRIES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIII, Issue 109, 9 May 1892, Page 3

BUREAU OF INDUSTRIES.

AUCKIAND BRANCH ESTABLISHED.

Me H. Ferguson has been appointed officer in charge of the Auckland Buroau of Industries, in addition fco his duty as Factories Inspector, and is carrying on business in both capacities iv an oiiice of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board premises in High-streot. Agents have been appointed in country districts, and Mr Forgusson is busily engaged making himself acquainted with the requirements of each diatricb of this province, with a view to assist in the regulation of workmen with the demand fchab may exist for labour. Having ascertained where labour is required, and with information to hand from Southern bureaux, Mr Ferguson will endeavour to meet the requirements of individuals who may be in need of assistance in the shape of passage money to enable them to reach distant localities. Where employment is found at the roquest of workmen, the applicants will be required to guarantee a refund of the passage money out of their earnings, or, if labour be supplied at the request of employers, the master will be held responsible to refund any advance made by way of passage money. Mr Ferguson is at present making inquiry as to the demand for labour on the Hikurangi and Rotorua railway works, and on the gumh'elde, but ho has nob yet received replies, and it will require a few days to enable agents to supply the requisite information. Tradesmen will be assisted to remove from one part of the colony to another on it being ascertained that there are vacancies for them, on the conditions already stated. So far as Mr Ferguson knows at present, the number of unemployed in Auckland is not great, certainly not so large as exists in some of the Southern districts, but he has nevertheless already had several applicants for assistance. Two or three callers stated that they were unable to do ordinary labour and wanted something easy in town, bub, as the officer explained, this is not exactly the class of people tho Bureau of Industries proposes to assist, and he could not see his way to afford them anyassistance. Mr Ferguson commenced operations this morning by paying the passage money of a tradesman out of employment who has succeeded in finding an opening in the South, the money advanced, of course, to be refunded when the man obtains work. In the South the Bureau is said to have done a great deal of good in the way of placing workmen wherever there is a demand for labour, and though there is less demand for such an institution here, ib will probably be found of value and be taken advantage of by many when out of employment.