DEMAND FOR LABOUR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26904, 16 October 1948, Page 9

DEMAND FOR LABOUR

SLIGHT EASING NOTICEABLE P.A. WELLINGTON, Oct. 15. A slight easing in the demand for labour is noticeable throughout ‘New Zealand. Vacancies on September 30 totalled 21,316, compared with 23,715 at the same date last year. “Though there are still many thousands of jobs available, my impression is that the demand for male labour has eased a little,” said the Secretary of Labour and Director of Employment, Mr H. L. Bockett, to-day. “ The shortage of female labour is still very acute,' however, in spite of the fact that seasonal work is at its lowest ebb at this time of the year. “ While the number of recorded vacancies throughout the country is still over 20,000. it is felt that these figures are to some extent inflated, in that, if it were available, employers would not be able to take all the labour they have asked for,” said Mr Bockett. “On the other hand, there are likely to be vacancies about which we have not been informed.”

Even at the Amsterdam Assembly of the World Council of Churches, Bibles were not always plentiful. A New Testament was needed in a hurry in one of the sections, but not a copy could be found among the delegates, states an item in The Church and the Community, the monthly publication of the National Council of Churches in New Zealand. A newspaper reporter saved the day. Speaking up from the back of the room he said: “You can have my copy if you will promise to return it.”