THE LABOUR REPORT.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 5669, 17 August 1905, Page 4

THE LABOUR REPORT.

From the report of the Labour Department, which was laid before Parliament yesterday, it seems clear that the workers of New Zealand have little cause for complaint with regard to the industrial and economic conditions now prevailing. Employment, though subject to minor fluctuations, has, generally speaking, been abundant during the jiast year, and a pleasing feature is the fact that —thanks in some measure to “preferential” treatment by tho officials of the department—there has been a much smaller proportion than usual of married men in the ranks of tho casually unemployed. Another fact that gives ground for congratulation is the growing proportion of men who are assisted to private employment, as distinguished from State-made work. Wages have been good, and apparently sufficient to provide a margin tor saving, if the Savings Dank deposits are taken as a criterion. There has been great industrial activity during the period covered by the report—the number of factories having increased by 650 and tho number of workers in them by 3745. In consequence of the briskness of trade, there has been difficulty in getting young people for factory work, and even in finding sufficient labourers for cooperative work on the State railways. Increased work, increased spending power, and increased savings all testify to happy and prosperous conditions, and make for political peace and continuity. The fact that these conditions have been maintained during a time when largo numbers of immigrants were pouring into the country speaks volumes for the absorbing power of New Zealand and its capacity under good government to provide profitable occupation for a large population. Mr Tregcar, Secretary of tho Labour Department, bears testimony to the beneficial results to the workers that have followed upon the appointment of Inspectors of Awards under the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act. The figures which ho cites undoubtedly bear out his' remarks, and ho might well have added that the new machinery has worked with an absence of friction, and has almost, if not quite, eliminated the personal feeling that used to bo evoked when proceedings for breaches of awards had to be initiated by the labour unions. In every respect the report is a most gratifying one, and the country may be congratulated upon tho evidences it affords of a sound and progressive prosperity and a condition of profound industrial peace. The Department of Labour and the advanced Labour laws have had the good fortune to bo well established during a time of briskness; and the fact should make them all tho hotter able to stand the strain, of had times, should these unhappily arise in the future.