DEPARTMENT OF LABOUR

Otago Witness, Issue 3314, 19 September 1917, Page 43

DEPARTMENT OF LABOUR

ANNUAL REPORT. (From Our Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, September 12. The annual report of the Department of Labour states that although considerable disorganisation has taken place in trade and industry on account of the high cost of materials, and in some cases the difficulty in obtaining certain classes 01 goods for manufacturing p\irposcs, trade generally haa been very good during tho whole of the, year under review. In tho employment branch, notwithstanding tho shortage in the number of workers caused by a largo number of men being engaged on active service, very little difficulty has been found in supplying the needs of employers who have applied to the department for workers. In some of the skilled trades it was found necessary to transfer workers from o'iic part of the dominion to another part where work was available, and although in many instances employers aro short staffed, the position is not so aeufco as might have been expected. Nearly all tradesmen have been fully employed, and it has been found necessary to work considerable overtime in various tradts,. The total amount of overtime worked in factories by women and boys exceeds last year's figures, the principal increaso being in connection with the boot manufacturing trade. Labouring work generally has also been plentiful. The retail traders are again reported to have had a prosperous year, and ready money has been plentiful. The replacement of male labour by female labour has been continued as regards employment in offices, banks, etc. Although isolated instances have occurred, it has not yet been necessary to any extent to employ females at 'work' hitherto performed exclusively by males. The position, however, is such that if present conditions regarding the filling of reinforcement drafts each month continue it may be necessary for this to bo done in the near future.

Despite many statements to the contrary, the supplv of farm labour was sufficient to meet tho demand, and at harvest the department had difficulty in finding employment for all its applicants for this class of work. Steps are now being taken to enable farmers and dwellers in the smaller towns to advise their needs to the various labour employment bureaux through the department's local representative (the inspector of factories). By this means it is hoped that both employers and workers in the counti-v districts will bo assisted. Tho "number assisted through the men's employment bureaux during tho past year (including 500 assisted by reduced fares) shows a decrease on last year's figures of 3012. Of tho amount of £419 repayable by workers for fares advanced £254 had been collected by March 31. From April 1, 1916. to March 31, 1917, domestic servants and others were assisted as follows: —Auckland, 476; Wellington. 856; Nelson, 182; Christchurch, 252; Dunodin, 161. In each town, except Wellington, there was a decrease in the number assisted, but Wellington showed an increaso of 50. Tho following figures, which show a considerable decrease in the number of factories and persons engaged therein during the past two years, are evidence of the effect of tho withdrawal from civil employment of a largo number of men for defence purposes:— Factories. Workers. 1913-14 13.469 87.517 1914-15 13.937 88.812 1915-16 13,214 83,011 1916-17 12,455 78,188 Greatly increased overtime haG been necessary in factories on account of the decrease in the number of workers and the increase of work in many trades. Out of a total of 190 disputes, 159 were settled or substantially settled by the commissioners and Councils of Conciliation.