The sun., 1919-03-25
FEW OUT OF WORK,
DOMINION REPORTS
Thrift Of Canadians Shown as
Much Greater Than
Year Ago.
specia, Correspondence to The sus.

Special Correspondence TO The suS.
TORONTO, March 24.-Conditions gov
erning tho transition from war to peace
in Canada are more and more rapidly
approaching a normal basis There Is.
Of course, considerable labor unrest, but
official reports OF unemployment are
very favorable, according to the monthly
commercial letter of the Canadian Bank
of Commerce. Just issued. The thrift
OF the people of the Dominion is de-
clared to be much greater than a year
ago. as is evidenced by the volume of
savings In banks which is nearly 10 per
cent. higher than It was In January OF
1918.
: Although labor unrest and peace
problems are occupying public atten-
tion," says the banks letter. there Is
substantial evidence that progress Is be-
ing made in the transition from the con-
dltions OF war to those of peace with
out serious disturbances occurring. Of
fetal reports as to the extent of unem-
ployment indicate that conditions COM
pare favorably with those prevailing
at this season In the years Immediately
preceding the outbreak OF the war; De-
spite the fact that large numbers en-
ployed in making munitions OF war have
to find other occupations, the actual In
crease in unemployment from week to
week is nominal, and we understand
that In certain lines OF industry fac
tories are working on full time. De-
creases are taking place in wages and
In prices OF some staples. such as wool,
iron, steel. foodstuffs and mixed grains.
but not as yet to any material extent
Many industrial establishments are pre-
pairing to manufacture articles not hith-
erto produced in Canada, and agents are
being sent out TO home and foreign fields
TO find a market for them.
Unrest will prevail TO some extent
until the political questions now before
Parliament are disposed OF, especially
those which are OF fundamental impor-
lance In the planning of industrial en-
terprises, II Ia desirable that a settled
policy should be determined upon as
early as possible so as to permit labor
and capital to adjust themselves to con-
ditions which It Is anticipated will nee
essarly be different from those existing
prior to the war. II Is quite clear. how
ever. that whatever may be the attitude
of Parliament. the highest industrial eff
f1ciency and the greatest national econ
omy will still be necessary. This eff
cheney Is essential II we are to offer our
products at a price that will insure a
market for them, and at the Same time
furnish capital to develop the resources
OF the country so as TO insure eatisfac-
tory employment under peace conditions
AT present there Is tangible evidence
OF thrift in the extent TO which the gen
| cral public Is buying securities of the
best class and depositing It's savings IT
tho banks. The deposits for January
1919. amounted to s9so,0o0.0s5. consid
erably greater than those OF a year ago
! although in tho meantime the public ha.
| absorbed about 00.000.000 Of Domin
ion and Provincial Government bonds
| While Il cannot be said that conditions
are nearly normal, the outlook is more
hopeful than was anticipated during the
period Immediately following the cessa
| ton OF hostilities.
THE extent OF the industrial develop
ment OF the Dominion in 1917 is indi
| Gated by the census OF manufactures FOL
| that year recently completed by the Blu
reau OF Statistics, a comparison of which
with the census of 1915 follows:
Capita, invested. .. s.,77a5l7. $50 ,LSsilos z
| Establishments ....... A.so 1907
Employees on salaries 13bpS 2O,sl
| Salaries paid. 1883 SS S67o, Il
| Employees on wages,
including piece work
Wages paid ......,..... 7.c4S,i5s ??77sa,?'
Cost Of materials. 500, $50. s3i 500 $50, &c
Value Of products. sol5. 500. s6s l,69s 300, q
1.-THE great Increase IN the value o
manufactured products IL due chiefly 4
higher prices and only In n lesser de
gree to more intensity production. Il
the brief period OF two years the remu
neration OF labor has doubled and It vii
also be noted that the number OF EN-
ployees engaged in manufacturing In
creased by 1IS,1SS, although In tn
msar' me very large nUmbers yer
t1cS1eu for military ssEfce Non Ia
| the manufacture of war material ha
ceased, a large number OF workers ar
| seeking other forms OF employment an
at the same time rehabilitation OF mill
tary forces Is In progress, adding TO tn
supply of labor. The situation thus ere
ated, however, Is so far not as seriou
as anticipated and is being met in var
ious ways by the local and the Dominic
Governments"
The Imperial Treasury has stated tina
/, cash advances to the Dominion amounte
TO go 900, 900 up to March 81 last. Cas-
advances by the Dominion to the I'm
perial Government at the same dat
amounted. with interest, to $6O6,149, 73l
A summary OF the gold production OF tn
British Empire given in a recent repoI
by Lord Inchcape shows a decline In pre-
duction in 1917 for the first time durin
the period Of the war and the substar
tial decrease OF $22.639,s66 In 1918. TIL
falling of in production in Canada dur
ing 1918 Is. however. over-estimated. I'll
output being taken as $l2,166,2 $50, Will
the Chief OF the Division of Mineral Re
sources and Statistics estimates It a
sli,6s7,S75.