ABSORBING LABOUR

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 116, 13 November 1923, Page 7

ABSORBING LABOUR

THE REGISTRATION SYSTEM

ARRANGEMENT BETWEEN POSTAL AND LABOUR DEPARTMENTS.

In order to facilitate the placing of unemployed workers in jobs in the outlying districts,'with a view to bringing farmers into closer touch with the labour market in the city,, an'arrangement has -been effected by the Labour Department with the Post and Telegraph Department by which all postmasters in towns where no permanent officer of the Department of Labour is stationed will act as employment agents. Hitherto constables and other officers of the Civil Service have been authorised to act as agents, but this system has not met with the success that was anticipated of it. Under the new scheme, any employer desiring the services of a worker will be able to apply at the nearest post office, and notify his requirements to the postmaster, who will, if no suitable labour is available locally, immediately communicate' with the nearest office of the Department of Labour. Similarly, workers in need of employment may communicate with the nearest postmasters, and an endeavour will be made in the same way to find suitable work.

_ If a worker is placed on the application of an employer, the latter will be charged a small fee by the postmasteragent, and a similar charge.will be made to a worker who is secured a position. The fee will be based upon the rate of wages, and will'therefore vary, but no charge.will be made if engagement is not effected. In towns where there is a permanent officer" of the Labour Department inquiry should be made from him, and not from the postmaster. In such cases n 0 fees will be chargeable. The Labour Department expects that both employers and -workers will make use of the facilities provided, and the hope is expressed that a large percentage of the vacancies notified may be filled under the new method of employment. _ The altered system does not necessarily mean that there is any unusual stress of unemployment at the present time, nor, on the other hand, that labour is difficult to secure. The arrangement has been made with the object of providing further facilities for the distribution of labour, and for easing the situation as it exists. A comparison of the figures of the local unemployriient bureau with those of last year indicates that the problem is much less serious than it was twelve months ago. Indeed; it would seem that with the commencement of the summer the number of names on the books of the Department is steadily dwindling week by week. A month ago 1.57 names were registered; these were reduced at the end of the following week to 110, and after a further seven days tt 108; and the latest return, covering the week ended sth November, indicated 97 names on the books. At this time last year the bureau had 284 registrations. The bureau is placing a fair number of workers every week, but the figure varies. Last week 29 men were placed in jobs. Under the arrangement with the Postal Department it is hoped to absorb still more men in employment weekly.