REGISTRY OFFICES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13768, 5 June 1908, Page 6

REGISTRY OFFICES.

GOVERNMENT COMPETITION.

*AX UNDUE ENCROACHMENT."

The opening of a women's free labour bureau in Auckland by the Government- is resented by the proprietor? of several registry offices as an undue encroachment upon private enterprise. " The Government charge its an annual license fee," said one of them to a Hkhai.p representative yesterday. " >ncl then they enter into competition villi us. Ido not think this is right. They might at least have waited until the term of our- present licenses had expired before doing this." Asked whether the opening of the Government office woulc' affect hi.* business, ho replied that he was not yet able to answer this question. " Probably it will not make much difference." he said, "as I am not entirely dependent upon the registry work, but I object to the principle as -' wrong OIK*."

The proprietress -o. another establishment characterised thr new departure as very unfa:.'. The Government, she said, had already laid down restrictions as to the fees to'be charged, and as the registry office-keepers were conforming to these regulations, and paying their license fee every year, she thought there was no occasion for the opening of a Government establishment. -However. Ido not think it will matter much." was- the reflection with which she consoled herself, "as it will only be those girls who are in need ot charity who will go to the Government, office." The reduction of the fee;: charged by the private office, she added, had had the effect o: thinning out the number of registry' offices, and it was possible that the present innovation would have ? similar effect. ' In that respect it would not be a. bad thing for the survivors, but it wis very hard on the others who would bo compelled to close, and who were at present only just making a livelihood.

On calling at another office, the reporter found the proprietress accepting the position very calmly. She did not think that the Government- bureau would affect her to any appreciable ©stent. For years the Labour Department had been acting as free agents for male labour, but she had nevertheless done about as nine!) business in socuring employment for men as for women. In any c:\se, it would be principally those, who could not afford to pay the registry fees who would patronise the State bureau. She repudiated the suggestion that the charging of a fee tended to militate against the permanency of appointments secured through the registry offices.. " I make it my aim to suit both parties," she said.