IS THERE WORK?

Evening Star, Issue 19634, 13 August 1927, Page 9

IS THERE WORK?

LABOR BUREAUX OPINIONS POSITION IMPROVING It would seem that those of the unemployed who are willing to go into the country will soon be able to appreciate that lilting refrain from ‘ The Mikado,’ which runs as follows: The flowers that bloom in the spring, tra-la! Bring promise of. merry sunshine ’ And work.” At least such is the general opinion of the proprietors and proprietresses of local labor bureaux. (V ben Jack Frost loosens his iron grip on tho good Otago soil there is every prospect of extensive agricultural work being commenced,oand it is probable that the coming summer will be a-pros-perous one. Tho demand for suitable domestics is difficult to supply, oven at present, and, although the Government Labor Department is for the most part catering for pick-and-shovel men, at least one private exchange claims to be able to place such workers without any difficulty. Ono labor exchange reported this morning that the labor market was much brighter as regards both farm and town. There was a good demand for domestics. In respect to farm work, Ihe situation was being eased considerably, probably because the farmers were in a better way financially as a result of tho improved value of butter-fat. There was a largo number of farm workers about just now, and many were being placed. However, the ma jority of the unemployed about Dunedin desired work in tho town. Speaking of the suitability of immigrants, it was stated that the majority of them, especially those from Scotland, were quite satisfactory, and of many dozens which the exchange had placed a very small percentage of them had proved unsuitable. At present there was a large number of men available to fid the demand for temporary work, including some fairly experienced men who were quite willing to work by the day Some of them were married men with children. At various times during each day large numbers were calling to sec if there was anything fresh in the way of employment. There was a fair amount of casual pick-and-shovel work available. ,

When interviewed on tho subject, the proprietress of another labor agency was quite vehement in her opinion that workers who were really suitable for the situations applied for were hard to get. Generally speaking, she did not deny that there was no unemployment, hut it so came about that out of about 200 applicants for work there wore often only about fifty genuine eases. Of course, there were married men in town who could not go into tbo country. Ownings among the tr.vlos were fairly scarce, but skilled workers, sometimes in tho case of bricklayers, were hard to procure.

“ Why, there are times when I have practically to go down on my hands and knees and beg people to go out and do odd jobs for two or three days,” said tho proprietress. “ I don’t call that scarcity of work.” She wont on to say that concerning work of a more permanent nature she had been wanting four married couples for the last live weeks, and she was still waiting for tho suitable ones to como along. It ivas almost impossible to secure women for country sheep stations. Apart from general laborers, workers, if they were genuine, should find it in the country, especially as spring was coming on. “ If I advertise for an hotel porter,” sho went on, “it often happens that not one out of twelve or fourteen applicants is fit to be sent out. I can’t keep up my business unless I give satisfaction. I simply can’t get experienced waitresses for country hotels, and have been wanting some weeks.” Sho then mentioned several cases wherein so-called needy workers had slipped her clients up. Altogether, many prospective employees did not understand tho spirit of “give and take.” 'Referring to immigrants, the proprietress said that although some of them retjiiircd weeding out there was not much difficulty in placing them 6n farms. Scottish farm hands could always find a job, but London boys were absolutely useless, even after being sent out after some experience at a farm school. Sho could do nothing for immigrants who came out as litters, etc. Immigrants came straight to her from tho Immigration Department in Wellington, and when they were suitable for tho work offering she had placed hundreds in good positions. Settlers who came out privately should be .placed by relatives. in connection with the general unemployment question she expressed the opinion that there was a good deal of extravagance going on. Some men in seasonal jobs immediately splashed earnings and came into town looking for more work.

An inquiry at another labor exchange elicited the information that the trades were “dead, 1 and that the placing ol unskilled men was often a case of “the square peg in the round hole.” Just at present all farm work was at a standstill, and it would not be until well oil towards November that lam operations would be in lull swing. There was a demand for domestics, but not in town; women appeared to be unwilling to leave the town for the country. Then again, warkers who had promised to go out to jobs frequently turned them down; probably they belonged to the category which was always waiting for something; better to turn up. Mule labor demands were being satisfied iunuodiafely, mid the exchange could guarantee employment, including that of the pick-aad-sliovel variety, at five minutes’ notice. The proprietress of still another labor exchange reported that she had live vacancies in the country for women, and was unable to (ill them. There were no vacancies for men on farms, but when the frost in Central Otago was over the prospects would ho much brighter. She considered that the situation was quite ns bad last year as it was now, although there wore many needy eases in town, such as unemployed clerks. Tin l whole situation was the result of Iho shortage of money. Plenty of work was available, but tho people could not afford to pay for its execution, and consequently wages wore coming down. She suggested that if New Zealand did not import so manv goods from America the position would be much more satisfactory.