SOME AUCKLAND FORECASTS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 107, 6 May 1913, Page 7

SOME AUCKLAND FORECASTS.

The purport of the message from our Wellington correspondent, to thp effect that Wellington workers have' bffn ndvked "to try Auckland, where trade is brisker." is viewed with a certain amount of dismay by nil those officials who are connected with the organisation of labour in Auckland.

•Mr. Newton, olfieer in charge of the local oflice of the Labour Department.

said that, while the position in Auckland would not justify anyone creating a panic, he certainly would not advise -anyone to come in from outside in the expectation of getting work here at present. There were, perhaps, no more men out. of work than was to be expected at this time of year, but the supply was considerably greater than the demand, and this condition of affairn would be intensified as- the season progressed. ■What made it worse was the fact that po many farmers were unable to keep their hands em-ployed all the year round, and that always threw a good deal of Eurphis labour on the city market during the winter month?. "We have as many as, or even more than, we can provide for," Mr. Newton summed up, '"and men would tie ill-advised to come to Auckland just now from Wellington or elsewhere."' The secretaries of the various trades unions have the same experience to rplatf as that of the officer "in charge of the Labour Department. Mr. Banfield, of tlrAmalaamated Society of Carpenters and Joiner?, informed n "Star" reporter that there were on hie books the names of Hi men who wanteJ work. lie hj;t already written South, he explained, to say that the market here was overstocked, and that the influx of men. quite wrongly under the impression that "the Exhibition" was providing lot 3 .of work for carpenters, should be stopped in the interests of the men themselves; v: '•'"

Mr. Davis, of the Drivers' Union, reported a scarcity of work, in hi 3 depart ment. There always is a big number ot men out of work in winter, he explained, owing to the of the works by local bodies and other, where ii great deal of carting is required. These men naturally flock to town, an,l aslnany o! them as are fortunate are absorljed by the waterside workers or the gcner.U labourers.

With regard to tailors. Mr Bullen reported that the position was really >enoua. More men were being encouraged to come to Auckland when many of .those here already had not been ahle tn average four days" work a week for months past. -Mr Horning, of the Painters' I'nion. said that they had t.<x.many, men now for tin- demand, although ►trade was fair at. the pr.-sent lime, having picked up a bit lately. It could no! be expected to improve, however, as the weather grew worse.

Mr Cain, secroUirr <.f the Engine Driver*' Union, thought that Wellington nusht to be better informed as to the state of affairs in' Auckland. He had •riven them constant warnings so far as his own union was I'onfprnpd. and with the wet weather closing down ftaxmilta, traction enaiiifs. and othT avenues of employment, lie always had men out of work.'

"Groenrs' Assistants nre a drug on (he market." said Mr Rosier. "A week >ir two apn an Auckland firm advertised for an assistant, and :$!) had answered the advertisement, before !> o'clock in the morning. They are flocking into Auckland from '.ill parts of the Dominion, and some from Australia, to say nothing of ihnse cmfiing from Flome nttrnrfed by the immigration boom." Mr Rossfr further explained that under the shirt and white-workers' award the nu-nubcr of bunds had been reduced, and work was slack in any case, at, the interval between th<" seasons. Some of the factory owners were also large importers, and ran their factories only for side lines. For instance, with collars, one. employer had stated in the Conciliation Court that he hod MO different patterns of collars hanging on his walls. !f large orders came in they were imported if time per ruitted; only orders required in a hurry were executed in the factory. This sort, of thing applied generally to underclothing manufacture. On" factory had 30(1 machines, and not more than half of them were in operation. Mr Rosscr was also able )«• staff that, though inquiries were coming in from all parts of the Dominion from printers' machinists and bookbinders, the trade was not able. . t<l absorb its own apprentices. Aiinong the blacksmiths there "were not many men on the books, and only this week (ira , firm could not find work for an apprentice who had just l*ecome a journeyman, but advertised for two new apprentices.