WORK OFFERING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22427, 25 May 1936, Page 12

WORK OFFERING

DEMAND FOR LABOUR MANY POSITIONS ADVERTISED RETURN TO BETTER TIMES - £ Clear proof of better times can be found in the classified advertising columns of the Herald. In the past three issues there appeared 380 advertisements offering employment —151 on Saturday, 119 on Friday and 110 on Thursday. A number of these, of course, were inserted on more than one day, but the daily totals and the wide variety of workers of both sexes and all ages required in town and country show that the recovery is general and not confined to a few occupations.

In the three days there were 200 advertisements for miscellaneous workers, 103 for farm labour and 77 for domestics. Those in the first section related to such industries and occupations as sawmilling, the motor and electrical trades, clothing and confectionery manufactures, liairdressing, hotels, house-building, transport, sales and general office work. Vacancies for Boys One gratifying feature is the call for boys, not only on farms, but also in town, and for young girls in factories and offices. Despite the onset of winter, there is a keen demand for farm hands, families of farm workers and share-milkers. Wages offered are £3 to £4 a week for married couples, for whom accommodation and sometimes also food is provided; £1 5s to £1 15s or more for general farm workers, according to capability, and £1 5s to £1 10s for youths. On Saturday there were 19 advertisements for farm hands, 14 for married couples and families and nine for sharemilkers. On Thursday, Friday and Saturday advertisements for boys and youths totalled 15. Wide Range of Industry

In town work, employers' requirements covered a wide range of industry and trade, showing progressive improvement in many lines of business. The advertisements for men included skilled tradesmen, salesmen, canvassers and office workers. Those for women numbered 61, a large number offering positions as clerks and shop assistants. Nine more were inserted by employers requiring male office juniors. The general shortage of domestics, which existed even in the depression years, appears to have intensified with the return of better times. A total of 79 advertisements in the three days showed that competent general servants could find employment at £1 to £1 5s a week, younger girls at 12s 6d to £l, cooks at £2 to £2 6s, and com-panion-helps at £1 or thereabouts. PLACING OF UNEMPLOYED DEPARTMENT'S NEW SCHEME GOOD RESPONSE IN AUCKLAND The Labour Department's scheme for classifying unemployed men desirous of getting back intQ industry and then endeavouring to place them with private employers has already met with a ready response from the unemployed in Auckland. So *ar approximately 450 men have reported to the placement officers and supplied information concerning their educational and technical qualifications and other details which they think would commend them to prospective employers. If is hoped that, as the result of the information the department will accumulate and the sen-ice it will be able to give in recommending suitable men, employers will mako uso of the department as the need for staff and workers increases.

The special staff at the Auckland office of the Labour Department interviews applicants for work and compiles an employment index card on which is written the- details necessary to indicate the applicant's eligibility to fill any vacancies that may bo available. Included in this information will be the names of previous employers, with the period and capacity in which employed and the nature of main occupations while on relief or when casually employed. It has been found that most of the applicants are able to give two or three alternative vocations, their efforts during the depression having taken them into occupations widely different from their normal occupation. Many have proved so much more able in one of these stop-gap jobs that it will be found. when they are eventually placed in permapent occupations they will have departed completely from the trade in which they were originally trained. Having compiled the information sought, the placement officers communicate with the employers named asking for a verification of the references given and when this is: obtained the applicant is given'an employment certificate. The aim of the department is that the standard shall be beyond even the slightest suspicion. The next step is to approach prospective employers, bringing under their notice the names of competent and reliable men whose references as to capability and integrity they are able to say have been thoroughly investigated and verified. All trades and callings are represented on the empleyment index cards already completed. Clerical workers lead with 79, then there are 49 electricians, 32 storemqn-packers, 32 drivers and 20 grocers. There are also numerous labourers and only one horse-driver. The work of establishing the system in Auckland has kept the staff working at high pressure, as the service is available to all unemployed men whether they have registered for relief work or not, and there has been no opportunity to approach employers. This will form an important part of the activities of the placement officers, whose duty it will be to keep in touch with the labour market. However, the cooperation of the employers is essential if the scheme is to achieve the aim of again placing in normal employment those who have been compelled to participate in relief benefits.