THE LABOUR PROBLEM

Otago Witness, Issue 3430, 9 December 1919, Page 7

THE LABOUR PROBLEM

SHORTAGE OF TRAINED TRADES MEN.

In his presidential address, delivered to the annual general meeting of the New Zealand Architects' Institute in the Council Chambers on Thursday afternoon, Mr J. Louis Salmond touched on certain social and industrial questions of keen interest at the present time: " Our men/' he said, "who have returned to the dominion are, without much, trouble. settling down to their old occupations oi; to others they consider more suitable. In spite of this there is in-.. sufficient skilled and xinskilled labour to carry out the work new being undertaken in the dominion, and this position is becoming more pronounced every clay, as the demand for labour is increasing, not, only in connection with building operations, but in every branch of industry. There is little doubt that this scarcity of skilled labour will be -a serious hindrance to the prosperity of the dominion, as it will check much needed public and private building and the expansion of industries. Without extensive immigration I see no immediate solution of the problem. The dominion could provide' occupation for thousands more artisans, and it is hoped that an effort will be made to induce and help the right sort of people to make their homes amongst us. The right sort will bring prosperity, with them, and tho present workers need have no fear, as increasing population in a young producing country like New Zealand bring, with it increasing population and wealth. There is. no doubt that fewer boys are now being taught trades as compared with a few years ago. Whether thi s state of things is brought about by tile drastic conditions governing apprenticeship, or by the generosity of the State in providing boys with an advanced course in our secondary schools, it is difficult to say. In numerous cases, this advanced course in our secondary schools brings with it a distaste for manual labour and an inclination for the cleaner and apparently .lighter positions > in shops and offices, many of which positions would make more fitting occupations for women. There is also no doubt, however, that many of our boys on leavhv school drift into unskilled. occupations, and are induced to do- so by the high immediate gain compared with wages offered during the first years of an apprentice's life. Now that the l men are returning from the war this is particularly noticeable, and many fine young men with a reasonably good education have to admit they have no trade and no definite occupaand describe themselves as labourers. Surely it would be in the interests of the dominion if compulsory regulations could bo evolved regarding a boy's immediate life _ sifter severing connection. with our. public schools, to see at least' that he is given a chance, either by means of the technical school or as an apprentice in some trade," to make himself skilled in some occupation which will not only be congenial, but beneficial to himself and also to the State. If the work of the dominion is to Tie carried on satisfactory we must have more tradesmen, and that at once, as I do not think the public are aware of the seriousness of the position." Turning to the question of building prices, Mr Salmond said that during the war prices of building materials advanced to a price which practically stopped all private building, and architects experienced, especially at Home, very lean and anxious times. With the armistice and peace came the hopes of better times. It was expected that cheaper prices would enable much essential and necessary work to be carried out. .A year had' passed during which prices, instead, of receding, had steadily advanced, and building materials, with a few exceptions, were now more expensive than during the war. Wages had also steadily risen and were still rising; Tn spite of this people were becoming reconciled to the belief that prices would never again return to pre-war levels, and even predicted they would, instead of receding, rather tend to advance. This belief was having the effect of inducing many to set in motion building projects which they had held up too long, in the interests of their businesses. Architects were, therefore, looking forward to a time of greater <prosperity, but in the meantime scarcity of labour more than cost was seriously hampering building operations. Mr Salmond went on to deal with the training of architects and with the ideals after which the profession should strive. At the close of the address Mr W. M. Page expressed the thanks of the institute to the president, for his very interesting paper, which gave them food for reflection rather than material for criticism. Speaking of. town-planning, he said that with all due respect to the architects of New Zealand the Wellington branch considered that no New Zealander should be appointed to the very important post of town-planner. - Mr T. H. Battle challenged this view, and said_ he believed the young men they were training would be quite able to compete with the old men who came out from Home.

Several other members expressed their indebtedness to Mr Salmond for his address, and he was accorded a unanimous rote of thanks and appreciation.