WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 December 1917, Page 3

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

LABOR SUPPLY. NEED FOR DISTRIBUTION. (Special Correspondent). Wellington, Nov. 28. The statement by the chairman of the Efficiency Board to the effect that there is no urgent demand by the farmers for school-boy labor during the holiday season confirms the prediction of people c-">r.versant with the facts of the situation. Of course a certain number of boys will find employment in the harvest fields, as they have done for many years past, but, generally speaking, the farmers are relying upon the casual labor which has served them in previous seasons. The supply of workers has been reduced to some extent by enlistment, but the main effect of this has been to draw men from the country into the towns during the winter months. With the return of summer and with better wages offering numbers of these will return to their former occupations. Already there has been a small excuse from the Wellington wharves, where farm workers have found the conditions not half so attractive as they appeared to be at a distance, and many of the men are going back to their old places in the shearing sheds and the harvest fields. THE LABOR VIEW. The real need of the hour is not s& much more men as it is easier and cheaper means of transit —some organised scheme by which workers and the jobs awaiting them, might be tonight ,tog*> Iher. The reports coming from North of Auckland, for instance, indicate that n thousand willing workers, not necessarily experienced farm hands, might find permanent employment in the district at good wages, but the cost of getting to the North of Auckland is very considerable and the employer does not care to pay a man's travelling expenses in advance without having some idea of what he will get for his money. A prominent figure in labor circles here when consulted about the matter said that such difficulties as existed arose out of the disinclination of the Government and the farmers to eo-operate with the Unions. There was no surplus labor in the country, but there was sufficient to supply all the needs of the employers if it wore properly utilised. If the Government and the employers would arrance between them for their distribution the m.ions would see that suitable men were forthcoming.

PIPES BARRED. Nothing could be more admirable than the zeal with which the Mayor, Mrs. Luke, and their army of lady helpers have devoted themselves to the promotion of the welfare of soldiers coming to Wellington, coin" away or sojourning here. Now they have taken a fresh en. terprise in hand, in the shape of "free and easy" smoke concerts in the Town Hall, for the benefit of the men who may be spending the week-end in the city with the hotel bars closed against them after six o'clock. An entertainment, free to soldier* and their lady guests, will be provided every Saturday night, and re. freshments will be supplied by Mrs. Imke and her ladies' committee at a merely nominal charge. But there is a restriction upon tlic "free and easy" entertainment which some of the men are taking sadly to heart, ipipes arc barred. The soldiers will be permitted to smoke cigarettes or cigars, and the lady guests, so the newspaper announcement says, must bo prepared for this contingency, but pipes will be off* Obviously Mr. Luke id not a tmokq..

THE' IMPKKDTNG BV-ELEOTIOK. There are no fresh developments in connection with the impending b.y-elec tion for the Wcllinston North scat, but it seems fairly certain there will be three candidates in the field and possibly there will be four. Many of (he Hoi',, A. L. Uerdinan's personal friends and political supporters are not pleased at the prospect of Mr. Luke stepping into the present member's shoes and are reported to have made representations to ttie Prime Minister which cannot be very will ignored. That the'constituency is a, Reform one in sentiment there can be little doubt in view of the results of recent elections, and even if the Liberals were free to contest it they would have only a remote chance of success; but with two Reform candidates going tn the poll an independent candidate pledged to support (he National Government and the vigorous prosecution of the Dominion's share in tlio war might upset the intentions of the party truce. It is being whispered about town to-day that a local solicitor, who would be a distinct acquisition to the House, is prepared to undertake this role.