DEPARTMENT OF LABOUR.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 5669, 17 August 1905, Page 3

DEPARTMENT OF LABOUR.

THE YEAR’S OPERATIONS. A REVIEW. The Secretary of Labour presented his annual report to Parliament yesterday, through the Minister (Mr Seddon). Mr Trogear, reviewing tho position of the whole body of labour in the colony, regards it as a highly satisfactory one. There has been inequality of employment in some trades if they were compared with the returns of the preceding three or four years, but on the whole tho advance has been very great, and wellsustained. An analysis of the imports showed a general purchasing power not only of the necessaries of life, but of its luxuries, which betokened a very flourishing condition for the average colonist, if compared with his expenditure of a few years ago. This might perhaps presage \a danger it the exports had not expanded in still greater degree, and if the amounts deposited in the savings bank liad not in ten years risen from £3,966.849 fo 0C5.432.008, thus showing that the working classes (from whose ranks most savings bank depositors aro drawn) have not forgotten to "provide for a rainy day." UNEMPLOYED. The proportions of the unemployed have changed in character, comparatively few married men now requiring assistance. For instance, Wellington district sent away 719 single against 211 married. This is a cheering sign, as it shows that there arc fewer families in need of help, and that more permanent occupation than formerly available has been obtained by married workers. It is now the floating and unstable members of the community—the single men—who mostly avail themselves of the opportunities offered by Government. Another point of interest is the greater ability shown by the officers of the Department in providing private employment for applicants. In Wellington district those sent to private work numbered 715, against 215 sent to Government works; and in Auckland 729. against 306. This shows that the department is gaining the confidence of private employers to a great degree. At one period during the year, it was for some time difficult to get the number of 1 men required for tho co-operative works of railway construction. FACTORIES. In March. 1905. there were 9023 factories in tho colony, an increase of 650. and 67,713 factory workers, an increase of 37J5. There was difficulty experienced in some factories in the direction of obtaining young people to assist in the work. This is probably caused by tho long period of prosperity that has extended over the colony. People are not as anxious in good times as in bad to take their children from school, and send them either into factories or into domestic service. ARBITRATION. There is reason for congratulation in noting the results which have followed the appointment of Inspectors of Awards. Not only have officials of industrial unions been relieved of tho very invidious duty of becoming prominent in action against employers, but. as inspectors grow more acquainted with general conditions and particular- awards within their districts, their efficiency is increased, and the benefits accruing to workers are considerably more weighty. During the year they laid informations for 295 cases of breach of award, out of which they won 232. They also settled 312 cases without having recourse to the Arbitration Court, and in these cases were enabled to obtain £1463 8s 4d of back wages for the workers. This was considerably more than the back wages obtained in the cases brought before the Court—in the latter tho fines inflicted were £529 10s, and back wages £450. Of course, it must bo remembered that the Court had to adjudicate on the doubtful and difficult cases; where the employer had only been guilty of inadvertence .the undisputed amount was more easily obtained through the action of the inspector. Nevertheless, the value of the inspectors’ services in saving the time of the Court and preventing needloss industrial friction is at once apparent. ASSISTED IMMIGRANTS. Mr J. Mackay. Deputy-Chief Inspector, says:—Largo numbers of people arrived during the summer months from England, Canada, and the United States. Most of these succeeded i ngetting employment from Wellington: others were booked to different parts of the colony, and our agents wore instructed to give them every assistance towards obtaining suitable employment. Several new arrivals simply turned round and went back to England, which, in my opinion, was better so, as they were totally unsuited for colonial life; having been brought up to clerical and other light employment, they had neither the physique nor the pluck to tackle something else.

As to persons emigrating to New Zealand, it seems to the inspector, that some on© should be at the other end, thoroughly up-to-date as to tho sort of labour that is mostly required in Now Zealand, also one who has had great and varied experience in colonial life and who would be able tc judge by examination and personal appearance as to whether the proposed emigrants would be fit persons to com© here. Many of tho arrivals are totally unsuitable, "but, of course, these do not all go through tho Homo Now Zealand Government Agents; therefore in many cases no check can be applied.

Employment generally throughout the year has" been good, and little difficulty has been experienced in finding employment for those who applied during the winter months of 190-1. A block of bush was given to the departemnt as a means of disposingof surplus labour, but it did not avail itself of it to any great extent, owing to its situation which made it extremely difficult to get at, thus entailing considerable cost of transport. 1

If something similar has to be done during lfii's it would be advisable to have il where there are reasonable means of access. Taking the perioJ from beginning to end work has been fairly plentiful, and in the dairying season I,and.- were verv scarce. The young colonial of to-day does not seem to like the idea of going up-country, preferring Ihe attraction of city life.