25 YEARS AGO

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 69, 14 December 1932, Page 8

25 YEARS AGO

Serious Shortage of Labour (From “The Dominion,” Dec. 14, 1907.) The allegations made by the writer of “The Dominion's” series of special articles ou rhe scarcity of labour are supported by some information which has just come to hand from a reliable source. Inquiries were made recently in the four chief cities as to the number of workers required in the principal industries. The estimate was intended to be a very cautious one, but it goes to show that at least 2500 workers are wanted in the four centres.

There are practically no unemployed in'Dunedin. A local registry office has vacancies for seventy-three farm hands, and sees no prospect of filling them. The high price of 14/- to 15/a day is offering for turnip thinners, without response. » * *.

It is estimated that with the new Parliamentary Buildings. General Post Office, and Public Trust Office in course of erection at the same time the Government will be involved in building in Wellington next year toi the extent of £200,000. If Ris decided to put in hand the proposed new railway station and the addition to the new Drill Hall at Buckle Street, that sum will easily amount to a quarter of a million sterling. ■ ' • * *

The Union Company’s new turbine clipper. Maori, established another record in the run from Lyttelton yesterday. The Maori’s fastest time from wharf to wharf now is eight hours twenty-five minutes, and from heads to heads'eight hours fifteen minutes. The a verage speed as far as Cape Campbell was 20 knots, and on the whole journey she averaged 19.62 knots. The previous fastest time on Hie northward run from wharf to wharf was nine hours three minutes.