UNSKILLED LABOUR.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 282, 21 August 1908, Page 11

UNSKILLED LABOUR.

REPORT OF SPECIAL COMMITTEE. The report of the Special Committee on. Unskilled 'Labour,' which the Charity Organisation Society appointed in 1904 "to inquire and report whether .by modification of existing methods of engagement, contract, and remuneration, especially ill . tho caso of unskilled labour, industry may not •bo organised on some more stable and beneficial conditions than now prevail,"' lias been issued by the Society at one shilling. The members of the Committee, were Sir Edward Brabrook, C.B. (chairman), Mr. E. Aves, Mr. AV. A. Bailward, Mr. W. 11. Bevoridge, Mr. C.- Chapman, Mr. J. Currie, Mr. J. J. Dent, Sir. H.* J. Howarth, Mr. Thomas M'K'ay, Mr; James Parsons, Mr. R. Roberts, Mr. D. M. Watson,- aiid Mr. C. 8. -Loch aiid Mr. - C. J. Hamilton , (secretaries). . The members of tho Committee confino' themselves to the following conclusions and recommendations:— "1. Tho Committee is of opinion that the system of irregular engagement and the daily payment of unskilled workmen is largely responsible for tho poverty and unthriftiness so commonly fouitd in this class/ "2. The Committee believes that lasting improvement can bo effected by tho organisation of the demand for and supply of workmen so as to increase the extent of the market for labour, and tho mobility of workmen within (it. "3. With this, end in view,, the Committee recommends that Conferences should bd arranged to consider, moro especially lin tho case of the building trade and of employment at the docks_ and. wharves, tho best form of such organisation. : • "4. The Committee,- recognising that employment cannot be rendered wholly regular over a series of-years,, or oven for one year, emphasises' tho need for tho extended organisation of societies for mutual thrift on tho principles of insurance. for tho purpose of enabling labour to-meet industrial risks. "5. The C!omniitteo would draw attention to. tho necessity- for securing a large measure of industrial, training to boys and girls during the years immediately after leaving tho elementary school in occupations _ likely •to load to permanent employment in after lifo; and, also, for assisting and encouraging parents to make wise cliojco in selecting the occupations of their children. "6. With, regard to the bearing of cooperation and profit-sharing on employment, we are unable to satisfy ourselves that tho use of these methods has a-direct effect in increasing the regularity of employment. It may, however, in our opinion, bo fairly inferred that ' these , methods have a valuable indirect effect in tliis direction through the favourable influences thus exerted upon the character and.condition of the workers."