asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce how many men were unemployed in the printing industry in Dublin on each of the following dates, namely, 1st January, 1922; 1st January, 1927; and 1st October, 1927; and what measures, if any, he proposes to adopt to improve the conditions in the industry.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - PRINTING INDUSTRY.
Statistics are not available in my Department for the exact dates specified in the question but I am quoting the figures for the nearest dates for which they can be given. The number of men registered as unemployed in the printing industry in Dublin on the 7th February, 1922, was 204. The number for the corresponding date in 1927 was 102. On the 3rd January, 1927, the number was 79. On the 3rd October, 1927, the number was 107, which represents about 2½ per cent. of the total number of insured workers in the trade. Included in the printing industry for the purpose of unemployment statistics are bookbinding paper bag and envelope making.
The Dublin Master Printers and Allied Trades Association made inquiries at the beginning of this year as to the procedure for having applications heard by the Tariff Commission. Information was duly supplied but no further communication beyond an acknowledgment has been received from the Association.
Much has been done for the printing industry by the placing of Government orders. The total value of such orders placed in the Saorstát for the year 1921/1922 was £53,163 and for the year 1926/1927 was £95,701. In the interval prices and profits were reduced so that the proportion of the expenditure attributable to labour in the latter year was at least double that in the former.
No representations have been made to me in favour of the taking of any other measures, within the power of the Government, to improve conditions in this industry.