SHORTAGE OF LABOUR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14808, 11 October 1911, Page 7

SHORTAGE OF LABOUR.

NEW SOUTH VVALES INQUIRY.

; By' Telegraph.— Association.— Copyright. \ '(Received October 10. 9.15 p.m.)j • ' + u,,j \ ' t " - Sydney, October 10.. AN', interim report of the Royal Commission «&fc up. ' to ' inquire, into the shortage Of'labour.in"-New South V? ales, has been t9 Parliament. , ,- ■:.;■■■ The report states that although both sides admitted-that a shortage of skilled labour "existed, "was.; an abundance of unskilled labour available except navfor; railway construction. - There does, however, exist a great and permanent need for;;tijie.:. introduction of skilled Workers, owing- to such workers not taking the risk of, coming! to the State unless guaranteed work.; '■■ v .'''-I :• ■ • '. --' ■ . . ■The-Commission ; found that the' introduction* of hew skilled i labour would reso^t«in)a'great increase in the general body jof'^or^/:and. the attainment of stability in industries, ■.->";.;/ ''' : 'J : f- '< ,"-Y '■'. ''■.•■■ >."; : '! ' One ? apparent aspect of the scarcity of . labour, says the report, is that people already.'here, are unable to get house accommodation. ' ; ' ~ ■"'-'• ; : .„ : .' .-.. ; ,;•'.'■ .. ', y >-■ After reviewing in detail a large - number i of..industries; .the report sums up the actual immediate ' requirements of skilled •iabdur"as^3247.' v i:''-^- ; -..'...

. : The : .ihquiry' opened on June 14, and is atiU sitting. v '" ; '"•*:•','/" ■;■, ■.■';:.:. - '

V^Xhe.,questions for the investigation of wfiiph. the" Commission was' appointed, are the alleged shortage of labour in the State, hours fljndl,general ,' conditions of employment of ; female and juvenile labour in .factories arid shops, and the effect upon such employees; ." cause of the decline of the apprenticeship of boys in skilled trades, and • the \ practicability of using technical trade classes as J aids to or .substitutes for apprenticeship. A- "-•''.,f:' '.- • '--!?. ■ ■■•■. :l: