LABOUR CONDITIONS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1103, 17 April 1911, Page 6

LABOUR CONDITIONS.

IN VARIOUS CENTRES, Tho conditions of trade and labour in the various centres, according to the Labour Journal, are as under: — WELLINGTON. Shopkeepers generally give somewhat pessimistic reports of the business done in March. Tho reasons for this are generally stated to be. that last year Easter came in March, and the weather this year Ins been very dry and hot. The sultry weather, which has obtained right up to the time of writing, whilst beneficial in many ways to outside operations, has seriously affected some of tho retail trades. Drapers and clothiers have been the chief sufferers.' Their winter stock has boon displayed for some time, but sales arc slow—and until cooler weather sots in no improvement expected. Butchers, fishmongers, and oyster-dealers have also been considerably handicapped by tho extremely muggy heat. ith tho near approach of the Easter holidays and the probable early change in tho weather, much improved conditions for April are anticipated. With the exception of bricklaying, work in the building trades, has been plentiful, creating in some instances an unsatisfied demand for tradesmen —chiefly carpenters and painters. Reports from factories are exceedingly favourable, and complaints of a shortage of hands have been rife in some trades, particularly the boot, eabinetmaking, and clothing factories. 'Die slaughtering and freezing works aro in full swing, and capable hands aro fully employed. Building Trades.—Bricklaying has slackened, and is now on tho dull side. Carpentry and joinery is now busy, and a demand, has arisen for a few good tradesmen. Painting is still very good, all hands fully employed, and inquiries for additional men have been made. Plastering: Trade has depreciated, aud prospects are not bright, building contracts being mostly for wooden structure. Plumbing and gas-fitting: Sufficient work lias offered to keep all available tradesmen fully employed. Stonemasonry is very steady; likely to be so for sonio time. Wood-working trades: Boxmaking, as usual, is still busy. Cabinetmaking and upholstering—Trado is very good; inquiries arc being made for tradesmen; orders on hand aro sufficient to guarantee this satisfactory condition for some time. Coopering has improved since tho previous month. Sash and door factories ore busy, and there are no apparent signs of any diminution in trade. Sawmilling—The improvement reported last month has been well maintained, and good men lwvo been kept in constant work. Wood-turning, etc. —Good steady work is reported. ■ Engineering trades: Boilermaking— An improvement is noticcnblo since last report, and hands have been making full time. Brass-and-copper-smithing— Orders have been sufficient to keep trade fairly busy, but thero is no rush. Electrical engineering—Trade shows an advance during the month, and it is expected to continue on the up-grado as the winter approaches. Fitting and turning—Work is confined to repairs, and there is little doing. Iron and brassmoulding—Both lines are somewhat slack, but an early improvement is expected. Rangenialiing—An improvement is reported, and shops are now getting fairly busy. \ Leather trades: Bootmaking (factories)— Orders are plentiful, and there is an unsatisfied demand for workers. Boot-repair chops are also reported busy. Saddlery and harnessmaking— Trade continues brisk, and no hands are idle. Clothing trades: Dressmaking and millinery—Although tho weather, lias been unseasonable, trade has been very fair, and if cooler weather comes on, workrooms will be very busy. Shirtmaking—This industry has been at high pressure for a very long time, on account of the difficulty experienced in getting workers. Employers complain strongly of this handicap. Clothing factories are similarly situated—not sufficient hands for the work, offering. Woollen-milling is busy in all branches, and more hands aro required. Printing trades: In bookbinding and. printing, trado is reported as being exceptionally good. Meat-freezing, etc.: Killing operations havo been very extensive to meet tho requirements of the meat-export trade, and in consequence moro hands than uraal are in full work. Tanning, currying, and fellmongcring: Good steady trado is being maintained. Coachbuilding trades: Blacksmithing has been very good, showing an improvement on previous month. Coach 'and .carriage building gives a similar .excellent report. Cycle and motor trades have had a very fair month, tho splendid weather experienced being largely responsible for the good business done. Unskilled labour and genera]: Conditions have been very satisfactory during March. Competent men for road-making, bushfelling, silone-napping, and general labouring work were in demand, and there still remain forty vacancies for such men on the Department's book. Tho work is situated in tho Taumarunui, Oliakunc, and , Pahi.v tua districts. Tho demand for farm bands has fallen off considerably, and beyond ail occasional application from Taranaki there are no vacancies available. No doubt after tho present drought is broken there will be a demand for ploughmen, which labour, however, seems to be in short supply. Towards the close of the month a fairly large number of capable men have como from the West Coast and from the South Island, and thero has been no difficulty in placing them in immediate, work. With regard to Wellington City itself, there is little call from private employers for unskilled labour. Tho Karori tramway extension, work on which has been started again after being held over owing to the want of sleepers, is reported to be employing from 30 to 40 men. The Department is now in a better position to supply the wants of private employers with a competent class of worker than it has been for the past three months. During March, 00 married and 119 single men. with 299 dependents, were found employment or otherwise assisted. Of this total 150 were sent to private employment and 50 to public works.

AUCKLAND. Very satisfactory. In almost every lino of manufacturing business is fairly brisk, tho ono exception being the engineering and iron-founding trade. Retail trado for this season of tho year is very good; business people report that they are well ahor.d of tho trado for the same period of last year.

WANGANVI. Trade during tho month has been very good, although tho continuous dry weather, experienced has affected the dairying industry, the supply to the factories "being now very limited. Sonic suppliers are experiencing difficulty in providing for their regular customers. The building trade still continues very brisk, and good tradesmen arc advertised for. Tho outlook in this trade is very bright.

PALMERSTON NORTH. Trade lms been fairly satisfactory during the past mouthy and prospects arc correspondingly bright. Outside workers have had a good month owing to the very fine dry weather experienced. The Borough Council anticipates spendin;!; sonic ifioOO shortly in improvements connected with the waterworks, while several buildings are in course of erection and others are projected.

MASTERTON

The majority of business retailors report that the conditions of their trade and turnover ior the period have, been very fair and sound., heveral trades report improvement, notably in the textile, and competent hands arp required and so far unobtainable. The furniture trade shows signs of improvement after a considerable lull, and several tradesmen who were able to obtain only irregular employment are now working something like full time.

NELSON. All branches of trade show a decided improvement for the month. • Many retail firms report that business compares more than favourably with the corresponding period of last year. Manufacturing industries in connection with fruit canning and preserving still continue, very busy. Operations at the local freezing works have considerably improved since last rcpoit. Factories generally aro working full time, and a better tone prevails throughout the. building trade.

CHRISTCHURCH. Conditions of trade and labour have been very favourable, and quite up to those which prevailed during the same month of previous years. The building trade still continues fairly busy, and tradesmen have made fairly good time, being fully employed during the, month. There arc a few plumbers unemployed. The long spell of dry weather experienced is having a very deleterious effect on tlie gross land, and it is to bo hoped the drought will be broken very soon, as otherwise thcro will bo insufficient time for a good .growth of feed beforo the winter sets in. Stock is. coming to hand at tho freezing-works fairly freely, but the records aro hardly up to those of last year. However, if tho dry weather continues, farmers will be compelled to considerably reduce tho number of-their stock, unless they have artificial feed to carry them through the winter months. Tho clothing factories continue busy: this also applies to the costume and shirtniaking departments. There is still a demand for gocd hands in these branches. Other tai!orin2 also shows an improvement on last month. The boot and shoe-manufacturing trado does not show any appreciable improvement —a fair number of workers not making full time.