THE LABOR PROBLEM.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2266, 11 August 1908, Page 3

THE LABOR PROBLEM.

LETTER OF WARNING. ACTION AT CHRISTCHURCH. Tho following is tho letter addressed to a number of newspapers in Groat Britain by tlio Canterbury Trades and Labor Council, warning intending immigrants that Now Zealand can absorb only a limited number of workers: — “Tho dosiro to, if possible, prevent a repetition of tho disappointment and misery which has fallen on hundreds of our British brethren, who, misguided by alluring advertisements, emigrated to Canada, is ono of tlio principal reasons for the 'Canterbury Trades and Labor Council, New Zealand, empowering the undersigned to forward, for tho instruction of our fellow workers in tho Homeland, a true account of tho condition of the 1 vhor market in Canterbury, Now Zealand. In making this statement we desire to acknowledge that at stated periods during each yoir a few industries employ all tho workers' procurable, hut those periods only last for an average term of six weeks, and arc chiofly confined to the girls’ department of tho bootmaking and clothing industries. During the rest of the year tho wage books of those in tho clothing industries, in particular, show workers receiving extended holidays, and being worked three-quartor time and less. Regarding agricultural laborers, the position is worse. Owing to tile almost universal use of agricultural machinery, and the accumulation of small farms, which arc, as a rule, wrought by members of the farmers’ family, little agricultural labor is therefore required, other than during harvesting operations. when the surplus labor of tlio towns is drawn upon. The weather, in the early autumn is usually dry, So that harvesting operations arc quickly over, and the man is lucky who gets a two months’ cheque, after which he may either go back to tlio towns and stand his clianco in the labor market there, or shoulder his bl inkets and tramp from district to district, picking up an odd job where ho can. During last year (1907), according to evidence given by a farmer before the Conciliation Board of Canterbury, 500 men visited his place, which is six miles from the main road. Another farmer stated that 900 had visited him last year. In the opinion of fanners, 50 per cent. (700) of those were employable ami looking for work. There are sufficient men here for the needs of the country. In tho cities there 16 always an -abundance of men anxious and willing to take anything that turns up. In the saddlery trade, which Was reported in the Home papers as busy, men ire being dismissed. In the tanneries staffs have been reduced, and those who are retained have been put on short time, i.e., four days a week. As is generally the case towards the close of the summer the building trades are fairly busy, yet even here there is no great demand for artisans, and as for laborers there are many times more tli an enough in almost all trades. Work is more intermittent in New Zealand than at Home, and as a setback to a slight increase in wages there is on the necessaries of life -and the household an increase of from 50 per cent., to in many instances over 100 per cent-, on prices paid by consumers at Home. We desire to make it clear to our fellow workers at Home that the same keen struggle for existence goes on in New Zealand as elsewhere, and that in qur labor market there is always a surfeit of men willing to do anything.—James Thorn (president), R. T. Bailey (Secretary Canterbury Trades and Labor Council).” WANT OF SKILLED LABOR. EMPLOYERS’ VIEWS. In reference to tho above letter, a member of the staff of the Press to-day interviewed a number of representative people, the general opinion being that there was a dearth of fabor in the Dominion, and that tlio position as put in tlio Trades and Labor Council’s letter was not correct. In the -course of a conversation on tho subject, Mr Broadhead, the secretary of the Employers’ Association, said: —“There are -a number of trades which are -at present 'handicapped for want of skilled labor. There is also a great shortage of boys and girls for employment, notably m connection with woollen and boot factories, and employers, though wanting t 0 extend their operations, thereby affording more work for adults, have been unable to get them. It is, in my opinion, the life and soul of the Dominion to have a properly equipped immigration scheme.” The representative of a large building and contracting firm agreed that the publication of the letter in Great Britain would have a damaging effect upon the industrial reputation of New Zealand.