LOCAL AND GENERAL, The condition of the labour market in Wellington appears, from enquiries made, to be at present in a fairly satisfactory position. Not many applications for employment are being made lo the Labour Department by unskilled workers, and thobe that are made come chiefly from single men who are passing through the city to the country. The aggregation of labour in the city has not yet commenced. Building operations aro by no means numerous, but very few application's for employment, are received from men engaged in the various branches of the trade. The demand foi farm hands in the North Island has fallen off, but in Canterbury ploughmen are urgently required. There is also a big demand for coal miners on the West Coasi of *he South Island, and experienced tunnel hands are required for the works at the Otira Gorge. It is expected that the ferry steamer Cobar will be relaunched from the Patent Slip on Wednesday next. A new stem is being fitted on the vessel, and some pieces of timber will be placed to restore the damaged ends of the bowplanking The damage was not so serious a& was at first feared. Vhe Department of Labour has issued the eighth annual volume (1909) of decisions under the Workers' Compensation for Accidents Act. About 2000 cases of Tasmanian apples were shipped at Hobart by the Turakina, and ivero transhipped at Wellington to the Rimutaka, outward bound for London The Government has decided to contribute £80 toward the cost of improving the bowling green in the Te Aroha Sanatorium grounds, provided the bowling club will furl £20. A special meeting of the Harbour Board hat" been called for Monday next to consider questions relating to the conduct of business and to pass bylawb af (fecting the raising of additional revenue. Two foreigners — a German and an Italian — arrived at Wellington by the Mokoin, from the islands yesterday. A German and a Norwegian were included in the Turakina's passenger? from London. The Manuka, from Sydney, brought three Swedes, a Dane, a Frenchman, and a liussian. All these newcomers passed satisfactorily the test imposed on foreigners by the Immigration Restriction Act. At a meeting of i.he Management. Committee of the Wellington Rugby Union last c% r ening, a letter was read iroro the Railway Department, stating that arrangements could not be made for the 2.20 p.m. Lambton-Lowei Hutt, and 5.6 p.m. Lowei Hult-Lamblon trains to stop at White's Line on Saturdays to set down and pick up players. It was decided not to allow unengaged reiurees to come inside the enclosure o*i the Athletic Park during the playing of matchec. There is a wormy emulation among the city schoo) committees in the matter of improving the buildings and premises under their charge. In one case, that of the Mount Cook Committee, the natural levels of the ground have been a difficulty, the problem being co make a much-needed alteration without affecting adjoining,. property. During the past year, however, a satisfactory arrangement was come to with the neighbouring proprietor, who gave the committee every facility to make the desired changes, and the opportunity was taken to give effect to a very comprehensive scheme of improvement, internal and external, as complete as to be something of a surprise to those vis'tiug householders who remember the school as H was of old. Judging by statements made at a reception tendered to two church missionaries in the Kent-terrace Presbyterian Church last evening, evangelical campaigns of "the sensational big-drum order," to quote Dr Gibbs, will in future find little favour with the local churches. Dr. Gibb launched out into a spirited denunciation of religious theatricalism. He declared that the Gospel did not get forward with temporary excitement and a debauch of sensationalism. Further, he enndidly seated that he had seen missions which had done no good o.i account of the methods adopted ; others, however, he had been proud to be connocted with. In the present mission he saw prospects of good, but he fearlessly added that if it »vas of the biij-drum order, not all the micsioners' reputation would cau^e him to hold his peace. Some men who have been sent through private registry offices to work in the back-blocks are complaining of the treatment to which they have been subjected. It is stated that a number of men were sent from Wellington to a place in the South Island, after having paid the ordinary registration fee, on tiie representation that they would be engaged as mbbit poisoners at n. slated vvage. When they got to the town they found that they had to make a coach journey occupying two days, necessitating an expenditure of close on £2. Some of them were unable to find the money, and were consequently stranded. Others spent the money on the journey, only to find that the wages were lese th;wi had I been represented, and several refused to work for the wages offered. All of them had paid the registry office fee, whi( h will probably be paid by several of her men, who will have the same unpleasant experience. Enquiry is being made by the authorities into the complaint.
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Evening Post, Volume LXXIX, Issue 81, 7 April 1910, Page 6
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863Page 6 Advertisements Column 3 Evening Post, Volume LXXIX, Issue 81, 7 April 1910, Page 6
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