19. Mr. WILSONasked the Minister of Labour whether he has any information to indicate the extent to which the shortage of skilled craftsmen is due to the increased mechanisation of industry; and, if not, whether he will endeavour to obtain it?
§ Lieut. - Colonel MUIRHEADThe Department has no precise information as to the extent of the influence of increased mechanisation upon the supply of skilled craftsmen, and I doubt if it would be possible to obtain any, in view of the difficulty of tracing the effect of increased mechanisation among the many and varied factors which determine the supply of and demand for labour.