LABOUR FOR INDUSTRY

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24986, 21 September 1946, Page 8

LABOUR FOR INDUSTRY

RELATIVE POSITIONS 4 STABLE CONSTANT ABSORPTION BY FACTORIES <t».A.) WELLINGTON, September 20. While it was commonly supposed that secondary industries had increased enormously at the. expense of agriculture the figures showed that although there had been a large increase in the number of males engaged in secondary industries, the relative position was remarkably stable with, if anything, a tendency to fall, stated the report of the Select Committee on Poulation presented in the House of Representatives to-day. Male workers in secondary industries increased from 71,000, in 1901, to 134,000, in 1945, but the relative position of secondary industries as a field for the absorption of labour remained constant at about 25 per cent, of the total occupied male population. The report stated, however, that with recent trends secondary industry would tend to become more important. There was evidence of a considerable number of new industries beginning in the Dominion, calling for a large increase in the working population. One very serious feature, however, was the shortage of operatives for secondary industry, particularly adolescents. Because of a fall in the birthrate between 1930-1936 there were today coming forward for industry very much smaller numbers of adolescents. The committee believed that this factor would become critical in 1947 and would last until about 1953.

“This gap in the birth-rate has had, and' will have, very important repercussions on New Zealand’s economy. It will also have an important effect upon the birth-rate from the ‘fifties’ to the ‘seventies’ of this century.” The report stated that evidence was forthcoming that in some branches of the clothing trade a dearth of employees, particularly females, was causing a heavy reduction of output, but once" again, the committee found itself up against the vicious circle of shortage of labour and shortage of houses. It considered that provided labour and materials were available it should be possible within the next few years to catch up with the housing shortage. “A definite immigration policy should be decided upon by the Government. We think that an investigation on the spot in England and Northern Europe should be undertaken immediately. Unless steps are taken to make a longterm plan New Zealand may find itself in the position of being unable to get suitable immigrants.” The committee found that, according to the latest figures, race aliens in New Zealand total about 7000, or 0.44 per cent, of the total population. The largest group was Chinese. As to persons of foreign nationality, there were approximately 6851 aliens in the Dominion, including 2600 Chinese, 720 Germans, 489 Americans, 329 Italians, and 217 Danes. The committee expresses the view that the study of its report will show that there is a vital need for a reliable and continuous overall study of population policies in the future. It urges that the Government should be in a position to inform all departments as to what that policy is, particularly regarding the development of the Dominion’s economic and social life, which naturally involves some definite views as to immigration. The committee recommends the setting up at an early date of a small secretariat attached directly to Cabinet charged with the continuous study of the population problem with a view to devising a long-term over-all policy for the guidance of departments. The committee expresses the opinion that there is an evident lack of co-ordination on many of these policies. The departments should not be placed in the position, the committee contends, of having to make guesses as to the general trends.