FEMALE LABOUR WANTED.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXVI, Issue 13340, 31 March 1911, Page 5

FEMALE LABOUR WANTED.

BIG SHORTAGE IN AUSTRALIA. THOUSANDS OF GIRLS WANTED. Press Association .—Telegraph.—Copyright. Received March 31, 9.30 a.m. SYDNEY, March 31. A meeting of manufacturers discussed the question of the shortage of female labour. Several stated that they were prepared to start large numbers of bauds, but they were not available. One declared that Sydney and Melbourne between them could absorb 5000 girl employees. One firm had orders for 40,000 garments, but there was no possible hope of filling the orders, owing to the dearth of hands. Manufacturers are willing to increase wages 5 per cent. The meeting resolved to ask the Government to assist in. bringing out girl immigrants, who will he guaranteed work at the ruling rate of wages. STRANGLED INDUSTRY. | 10,000 Machinists Wanted. An Allround Labour Shortage. Manufacturers Demanding Immigration. (Sydney Telegraph.) Work is plentiful in Sydney. No man or woman who wants work,need be idle. Ten thousand female machinists are wanted in clothing factories at this moment. Upon their employment depends a host of male factory workers who do the cutting out, pressing, etc. There is the same dearth of labour in almost every avenue of industry. Even where labour is in apparent full supply, expansion would be the result if more workers , were available. Plenty of people want buildings erected, but are marking time owing to the heavy labour cost and the difficulty of obtaining skilled workers. • The universal story is a shortage of labour. And business men are certain that the present prosperity is not of ,a boom character. There is no bubble to burst. Trade has developed because of the expansion of the primary industries ou sound lines. Not oven a drought could cause a permanent diminution of commerce. Trade is not at its maximum because industry is being strangled by a serious shortage of labour. Times are good io Australia generally, and in New South Wales particularly, but the employers are certain that times would be better still if the full opportunity, for trade expansion were given by the plentiful supply of labour. A bigger volume of trade would moan more wages and higher wages. DESERTED FACTORIES., There are hundreds of factories in and around Sydney that have, a deserted appearance in their workrooms, because of the number of machines lying idle. Tlio employers allege this is due to a shortage of labour. There is no question of wages. The wages offered are above the aw'ard rates where an award governs. In some factories -as many as 250 employees are wanted. One firm recently built premises and put in machinery to employ 100 hands; they aic not procurable, anc? this modern factory lies idle. So serious has this shortage of labour in the manufacturing industries of Sydney become, that united action by the employers has been taken. WHAT THE EMPLOYEES WANT. The employers want the Government to adopt a Vigorous immigration policy. The manufacturers of clothing in . all its branches, boots and shoes, hats and, caps, etc., arc compiling a list which shows that at least 10,090 female machinists are wanted to lift the factories out - of the state of stagnation that the labour,shortage has placed them in. Each employer will pledge himself to find employment for at least two years for the number he guarantees to give employment to.