THE LABOUR MARKET

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2813, 3 July 1916, Page 7

THE LABOUR MARKET

—♦ i REPORT OF THE DEPARTMENT. The annual report of the Labour Department, which was presented to-the Hoiiso of Representatives last week, offers a rellex of the exceptional prosperity which was enjoyed by the Dominion last year. Generally speaking, says tho report, no difficulty was experienced in coping with any unemployment that arose. Indeed, it can bo claimed that in point of the number of applicants the year was a record one, there being fewer applicants for work than during any other period of the Department's history. In many cases weeks elapsed in rxmio of the larger secondary towns without a bona-fido application being recorded. A high' percentage of applicants was assisted, the bureaux being able in most cases to offer employmcnt-4)oth Government and privntc—to all classes of workmen. Tradesmen have had an exceptional year, employment being regular owing to record weather conditions and lo tho great demand for various classes of the Dominion's goods, notwithstanding tho ■ fact that in many cases work was retarded by tho shortago of imported materials. Much overtime, has also been worked, supplementing tho ordinary earnings. On the Wellington wharves there has at times been an insufficient supply of labour. In tho engineering trades a shortage of fitters aud turners has been felt. There has been considerable activity in the freezing industry, and several new works, besides additions to others, hnvo been erected in various parts of the 'Dominion. The retail traders are re-, ported to bayo had a good year, particularly fancy-goods dealers,, jewellers, and tobacconists, whoso .increased business is, no doubt, duo to' the purchases made by or for departing members of the Expeditionary Forces. An unusual feature has beon the extensive employment of girls in the place of men in various avocations, notably hi banks.

Tho providing of additional camp accommodation at Trontham and tho orec-. lion of the new buildings at Featherston gave employment to a very large number of building tradesmen of all classes and to unskilled labourers, and all parts of tho Dominion had to be drawn upon to provide the requisite workmen. Many private employers.reported a scarcity of hands, and despite offers of increased pay and overtime work tho hands wero nn- ■ procurable—especially was this the caso during tho late summer. In anticipation of larger crops of cereals than usual, and of a shortage of labour to harvest tho same,, special nnd complete arrangements were made by tho Department for an adequate supply of labour, and in addition to the workers that usually follow this class of occupation numbers of volunteers were ready to come forward when necessary. While the harvest was ou tho whole- a very fair one, it was found, contrary In expectations, that little or no difficulty was experienced by farmers in themselves obtaining on the epot what assistance was needed, and very few applications for workers wero made to the Department. Tho facilities afforded by this Department's 'Employnient Bureaux in the various towns in tho Dominion have been placed at the disposal of tho Discharged Soldiers Information Department, and a number of the returned men have already been assisted to employment. The Department has during the year also assisted tho Department of Munitions and Supplies in making inquiries concerning those workers whose retention in the Dominion is necessary to the outpt of supplies. I'lio number of men who received practical assistance during the year was 5978 —a decrease of 1537 on the previous year's iißurcs.