THE LABOUR PROBLEM.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 100, 21 January 1908, Page 7

THE LABOUR PROBLEM.

* —— — • STATEMENT BY AN INSPECTOR OF FACTORIES. ■ / Cur TELEGRAPH—rRESS ASSOCIATION.) Auckland, January 20. Referring to. tho labour problem, Mr. Shanaghan, Inspector of Factories, and manager of the Auckland Government Labour Bureau, this morning informed a Press representative that the statements of the Minister for Labour at, Christch'urch certainly had application to Auckland, and that throughout the .past year there had 'bean a great scarcity of boy and girl labour. The conditions prevail elsewhere, and, as- Mr. Shanaghan points out, the Minister probably bases liis'remarks on'the monthly reports which roach. him from tho various centres. In Auckland throughout the year there has been a scarcity of skilled labour in many branches, whilo there havo been only remote instances where men have been out of work. Tho shortage of boys and girls, more' particularly ' the latter, has been a general cause of -complaint with factory managers for many months past. " You will notice," said' Mr. Shanaghan, "that nearly every monthly report last year made reference to the scarcity of boy, girl, and femalo labour. For instance, in tho September report, it is stated that factory managers bewail their inability to secure femalo machinists. Another report states that ono firm, in the hope of inducing girl labour, opened up an auxiliary factory at Ponsonby. Tlio samo condition of affairs has existed all the year, and as Christmas camo on the position became more acute. The Government Labour Bureau has had no complaints of an insufficiency of farm bands, and the supply has been well in keeping with the demand. Unskilled labour is not a superfluity, and tlio Auckland branch has, during the last few days, been endeavouring to recruit able-' bodied men for navvying at Taumarunni."

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