GIRL LABOR.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2100, 28 January 1908, Page 1

GIRL LABOR.

SCARCITY ALL OVER DOMINION

The dilemma of Auckland employers owing to the scarcity of labor in certain industries is said to havo its parallel in Christchurch, and inquiries made show that in regard to girl "abor in the clothing and bootma’king industries tho position in Cliristcliucli is, and has been for some time, acute.

The reason given generally was not that the girls were being attracted into other occupations particularly, but that there simply was not tho supply to meet tho demand. It was stated that although many girls were finding their way into offices, they were not at least turning tho boys out, and in support of this a complaint was made that there was also a scarcity of boys, even with the inducement of good wages. Ono ingenious inspiration for getting girls for a shirt factory was that of giving a bonus of 10s to each girl employed who could secure another qualified worker; but even that was said to be fruitless. Those who were questioned about tho matter said that they looked to the Government for help, and the suggestion was made that in the event of ntew Zealand manufacturers guaranteeing employment for a certain number ol competent girls at a particulai callin'' the Government should send an expert Home to select the girls, and waive the present money qualification in assisting them out. . Inspector \Y. H. Hugger, of the Christchurch Labor Department, said that to the best of his belief there was a scarcity of stock tailor esses ancl machinists, female boot machinists, mill operatives, hosiery workers, and fern do weavers at different tunes ot the year; also he believed there was o-enerallv a scarcity of order tailoresscs and dressmakers. He believed that the Government had the matter under consideration, as the result ot representations made bv the bmplovmV Association at Wellington. it iiipeared to him that there was an insufficiency of fema e labor all over the Dominion, ami that it was not a question, of the work being cons, delini undignified or distasteful. A\ lien the domestic servant problem was discussed it was stated that the ,ri,ls preferred factory work, but it could not bo shown that tint was so. On the other hand, there was an overplus of applicants for office work.

There was certainly not a surplus ol labor in dressmaking ami millinery, which were considered' better occupations than factory work, and at certain times a largo 'amount of overtime was worked at these occupations, especially in dressmaking. There wore slack times when everybody, in the event of the importation of labor, might not get employment, but the majority of them would be Imsv enough. There was no part ol tlie' year, as far as lie knew, when many female workers were put off, while the award in the order-tailor-ing provided for a fair distribution of work. There might lie a danger from importation in some industries, but not in those lie had mentioned. •.From the experience he had gained lie thought that the local operatives were, if any tiring, better than the imported ones.