AUSTRALIAN LABOUR BUREAUX

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 88, 13 April 1912, Page 12

AUSTRALIAN LABOUR BUREAUX

Much cry and little wool is the record which must be given to the operations of the Victorian State Labour Bureau (remarks the Leader). The fault lies not bo much in the administration as in the absence of any definite Ministerial policy. Mr. Murray's principle of never hustle has a laxative effect on all Ministerial action. When the Government first came into power it waa generous in pvomises^ of what should ba done and the oreatiou of a live labour bureau was among the pledges. But this assurance is yet unredeemed, and no real attempt has been mad? to deal with the problem of the unemployed. Much more has beon accomplished in. New South Wales. There the Labour Bureau not only serves the purpose of a free registry ofhee, with branch offices in fue principal country centres, but no pains are spared to find employment for those who are out of work. Assistance is rendered to those who aro in earnest in seeking work, and arrangements are made for the relief of destitute families while the breadwinner is out after a job. Another form of practical aid is the establishment of an agricultural farm, where city lads are trained to an acquaintance with farm requirements. The institution has now been in existence for five years, and has fully justified its creatiou. The lads trained there are eagerly Bought after by farmers, and the farm itself is very nearly self-supporting. Thece ib also a labour colony open to the destitute who have a real desire to work. Here they can obtain food and shelter and earn a little money to enable them to start anew. In this cabe the expenditure is very nearly covered by the results of the work. Surely the example which New South Wales offers is one well worth ttudy and imitation.