WORKERS WANTED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14629, 15 March 1911, Page 8

WORKERS WANTED.

IMMIGRATION SUGGESTED.

PRIME MINISTER APPROACHED. Tite shortage of labour to carry out the work offering in. Auckland was again emphasised at the meeting of the Auckland Industrial Association yesterday. The secretary read a letter which he had written to the Primo Minister on the subject. It stated that work was offering for over 400 females and about 100 males in Auckland, and asked the Prime Minister to ascertain during his visit to England whether the workers required here are available at Home, and whether any scheme could be evolved which would place such workers within reacn of the work waiting for them here. The greatest demand here was for women engaged in the manufacture of clothing, etc. The letter went on to say that there wa£i)lso a great dearth of boy and girl labour. In reply, Sir Joseph Ward stated he had noted the association's representations, and if an opportunity occurred during his stay in England to make inquiries in the direction indicated, ho would be glad to do so.

Mr. B. Buttle (president of the association) said there were about 500 vacancies in Auckland trades, and he thought it was safe to say that there were between 2000 and 3000 vacancies in New Zealand factories.

It was decided to forward a similar letter to that sent to the Prime Minister to the Hon. J. A. Millar, Minister for Labour.

DEARTH OF DOMESTICS. "KEENLY FELT IN AUCKLAND." " The dearth of dpmestic and other women workers is still being very keenly felt in Auckland and the surrounding district, and very few immigrants arrive to relieve the demand," reports the Auckland agent to the head office of the women's employment branch. Amongst the domestic workers the "general'" is the most sought after, but there are very few of this class offering. The girls state that they can get just as good and better wages for positions as housemaids, waitresses, parlourmaids, nurses, etc. ; that the work is cleaner and better defined and they know when their duties are concluded for the day. More girls would undoubtedly take the positions of generals if they knew they would be definitely clear of work and considered off duty from a certain time each evening, in addition to their half-day in the week.

During the month of February 124 applications were received in Wellington from employers, 74 engagements made. Eighty-four engagements were divided between 32 charwomen. The oversea boats were met, but few, if any, domestics were available from among their passengers.

The demand for female labour is still very acute in Nelson, especially in connection with jam and confectionery factories. Out of 37 applications received from employers seeking domestic help, seven were placed in suitable employment.

Girls are urgently needed for all branches of domestic work in Christchurch, but women for almost any class of employment are simply not to be had. The same position obtains in regard to dressmaking and factory work. There axe many inquiries for girls for such work, and there is also a great demand for apprentices to dressmaking, coat and skirt making, hat and cap making, etc.

In Dunedin 106 employers sought assistants; 21 were placed.