DEPARTMENT OF LABOUR.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIII, Issue 142, 16 June 1892, Page 9

DEPARTMENT OF LABOUR.

THE UNEMPLOYED . PROBLEM, HERE AND ELSEWHERE.

VISIT OF" A 'SYDNEY , OFFICIAL.

~ (BY THLEQBAPH,—OWN COBEBSPONDENT.)'

<~_■*??'„ ...... vv! ELI(INGT on, this day. I had an interesting interview to-day with Mr George Lewis^ head of the Local GovernmentDepartmenCofNewSouth Wales, whois here witha view to reporting to hia Govern: ment on New Zealand methods of working the Labour .Department,- and, other, subjects of importance.. JMr Lewis,! .informed, me that he-w>s specially' instructed tbrepijrb upon the New Zealand system .- ; bl. dealing with surplus J labour,,bhe means taken *to find -. work,,. for the; men,; etey .., He had received every asßistanbefrom Ministers and officials in prosecuting, his. investigajbions,, aftji he,iexpreased-'epeqiaV indebtedness to the Hon. Mr Seddon for, courteously giving him details; oL the.;c6-Qperatiye contract system of 'public: #orks>now in abtive," operation ;in various': parts' .of this colony. Being etill oo,the,threshold of his inquiries, Mr Lewis naturally forbore giving any decided opinion;as to thei merits of our Labour ,Department's methods,.,: bub, he stated that the information laid before him had impressed him very, favourably*-' <■ ■•■■ Would Mr Lewis oblige ,by>tating what had been done in. Sydney ,-feb, cope with labourproblems T v With vplea«iire. He:rta)ted:Hbhat |* Labour \;Bureau, had been established there for the'purpose of - distributing surplus -:■ labour ' over districts where it jwas -required;."••: Tfcis "/bttreata;, is worked by? Mr Joseph -Gre^r*: under^ the Colonial Secretary, ftnd i provides a registry office, WhSieallp*rßpn»QU.tplem^loytaent may register, free lof charge, their, names and occupations. Withiti tf j«e*rod ofa few months; about) 9,000 personar'itiA.(boregistered themselves, of x wbiieh' nijiMbisr 3,000 had obtained employment through the Governmbiib agency, • while many of the remainder had found work by their own

exertions. *-■ : "' ' "' ■ ' .*" ■ . This would. Beem.to.Bho«:iJ[ said, thatj the"; labour markeb was at present. depressed in Sydney/ r ( .'..■. i Mr, Lewis adwitted that the supply of labour was in excess p! thedemand abpresent, anii the Government were doing i every thing < reasonable to ■ meet; the emer- i genoy. The large building knownoß the Prince Alfred Park Exhibition Building has been'loaned to the Government by the City Corporation, and has been utilised in connection with the Labour Bureau. This buildine is vjpr'y cpmmcjdipus—the large hall being able to seat 5,000, people. In this large hall-sleeping accommodation has been'provided for those* Who wiao be exposed to the Winter weathen It is nob the case,7 as stated here'recently by the Hon. Dr. Grace, that.destitute people in Sydney are compelled 'to sleep in the parks or domain, exposed ;to the severity of i the winter of that climate. Whenever a-man is f6und sleeping in theparks,. he is either ono bf"the chronically unemployed or a character who has proved himself utterly unworthy -df -assistance. In addition to this building, and to th&blarifeets iti'&t are distributed by the Government to the deserving destitute or unemployed, 'there are two institution's supported by private contributions that offer night-refuge tor men; .' Mr Lewishereinterpolated parenthetically that he did nbt i mention.these faote.with a .view of inducing an influx of New Zealand destitute 'to 'Sydney, -but merely -to Qprr.est a ' misstatemerit. >I 'opine,!thjib thereds little danger of more New Zealandorn' goiiijg, over there. afbeV the revelations made conzhMVsjJfofttfdene ftdl^Wad suffering now being,enduredin Sydney. , ■■'.„. *if^JE«&fi^»f t^j»B^a'nß ; ME. r ,L^is: ■Bfcftted-that.iwidouß-pviblic officer^; iKro^u^af/ out tVe'cbibriy act as the agentsVof theSy<|: ney Labour Bureau, and when1 information js received that labour is required anywhere^ the Government issue free' railway, ;pasßis .and oth?rwiso assist men tb'get to the place. No doubt'when Mr Lewis makes his r6porb':to ■ the Government of ..New. Stmth •Wale'sj.;". there ' .will .be Home recommendations made' with regard fo features-that -might with '4®vantage; be adapted from New Zealaqd. Among these1, I Bhbuld think, will beithe Issue of ciuppns for meals and beds at reduced'rates, the making of cash advances to workmen on sufßcienb security.'and the addption of the co-operative contract system.", 'I hazard this opinion, not because Mr Lewis 'indicated in any way his intentions—he is far too politic to do that—but because it seems to me that he appreciates, these features wherein our Labour Bureau is in advance, of that in Sydneyi^i-!.*.;..^..,.,..;,:,:,,. ."'' ' ':"■-■.■.