TRADE AND LABOUR.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1127, 15 May 1911, Page 3

TRADE AND LABOUR.

lABOUR DEPARTMENT'S REPORT FOR APRIL. Tho Journal of the. Department of Labour for May,. contains tho following report on trade an-.l labour conditions in Wellington during the past month: — . "The building trades have experienced 'a fairly busy month, although several i men have lost time in going from one job to another. Retail trades have been very fair, and, with the exception of grocery, show an improvement over the previous month. There is still a shortage of hands reported in several of the clothing trades, and overtime work has had to bo resorted to to cope with current work.

"Building Trades: Bricklaying—Trade , is' still dull. Carpentry and joinery was ■fairly.busy for tho first three weeks of tho month, but towards tho latter part slackened off and some- twenty hands were discharged; trade is, however, expected to improve shortly, as several large contracts are coming out. Painting—Jobbing work has been very brisk. Plastering still slack. Plumbing and gas-fitting very busy; liands ■Jiavo been ■ put on during tho month, ;and good tradesmen, particularly tin- ■ smiths, aro still in demand. Stone- ■ masonry very good; all hands fully employed. ■ . ' .

"Woodworking Trades: Boxmaking 6-iill continues good; competent hands are in demand. Cabinet-making and upholstering fairly good; large- orders are coming in, which 'aro keeping tho regular staffs fully employed, and pro'spects aro bright. Coopering exceptionally good; several liands have been taken on 'during the last few weeks, and , tho busiest part of the season has still tfe come. Sash and door factories and snwmilling,fairly busy; considerable improvement on last month has been :eho»]i. Wood-turning, etc. — Good 'steady work is being maintained. '. Engineering trades: Boilermaking fairly busy, and great improvement on last-month has eventuated owing to several large buildings in course of erection being constructed. with heavv girders. Brass and . copper-smithing-shows improvement en last month, and ir. some'workshops overtime, is being made. Electrical engineering is better, and prospects for the near future appear very good. Fitting and turn.■ins—Steady work'is being experienced, chiefly in repairs. Iron and brassmoulding, is better than it. was last month, and regular hands .ire kept Hilly employed. Range-making has been, quieter during tho month Leather trades: Bootmaking (factories) very busy, and in some workrooms there is a difficulty in fulfilling orders. Repair-shops are still busy. ■Saddlery and harness-making—Trade .is very satisfactory, in all branches, •particularly in repair-work, order-work and retail.

Ciotaing trades: Dressmaking and millinery are-.repeated-to be quiet, bnt it is expected that as the winter ad ranees trade will improve. Shirtmaking is still at high 'pressure, and tho same difficulty is still experienced —tha want of workers.. Tailoring (fic-. tones) exceptionally busy;; tho difficulty is to get hands, and consequently a teal oF overtime is made. Order trade.is very goal,.and lias been-fair-ly .consistent during-tho month. AVool-Icn-milling is still ' very busv: more hands are required in the" various branches.

Retail trades: Clothing, boots, and. drapery fairly good, .and are snorted to be, considerably, better than duriii" the' corresponding month of last year" Urocories—There has been .a. slight ■ fall-iflK-off in"'this"Branch. *"' "- Printing trades: All branches of the trntle are.exceptionally good, arid overtime is being made. Meat^reeaiog,-Ptc::; Tanning, .cunring, iellm.onger.ma, slaughtering, freezing, and preserving are still very busv and.tt is reported that stock'is arriving in good condition. Cpachbuilding trades: Blacksmithing andjoach, carriage, and tramcar nuild-ng-JAlthough a Jittle quieter tlmi last month, trade is considered fairlv good. Cycle and motor trades: Repairing work is fair, and sales are reported to be good for the time of the year. AUCKLAND. The report on Auckland says:—"lt is pleasing.-to state that the conditions of trade and labour are still satisfactory in all branches " . . NAPIER. In reviewing he conditions of trade me employment for tho period just ended it is phasing.' to state that, generally speaking, trade has been very good, and, judging by the building permits issued during the two months ending ■ to : day and tho corresponding period last year, trade should receive an. impetus. During Jlareh and April 1910, permits to the , value of £4361 were issued, as against £27,867 for the corresponding period this year. The retail trades—grocery, butchery, and drapery— report that trade during tho period under review was equal to that ' of the. corresponding period of last year. The. retail saddlers' reports indicate that tnero has-been fairly good business done. . Boot retailers and repairers report that, on the whole, very fair business has been transacted; this, no doubt, is accounted for by tlio wetweatber experienced in the district. Tho house-furnishing retailors also report cood business. . NEW PLYMOUTH. . _ There iV very little,'if any, alteration' in tho condition of tho manufacturing or retail trades since last report. Tho building trades have continued verv regularduring the period. The output from the dairy factories is falling off rapidly, and the end of the season is in sight. The principal killing and freezing works aro closing down much earlier than was. anticipated this year, which is said to bo due to the 'hHi price ruling lor stock. Most other trades are about normal. WANGANUI. Trade for the month has heen very' good in all branches, aud there has been plenty of work offering for all classes of labour. Tho prospects for the winter.are very gcod indeed. MASTERTON. The general reports as to tho condition of trade and labour during the last month are fairly favourable. Although there has been no greatly marked improvement/ steady business has been carried on in several branches of industry throughout this district. Building trades are still improving, and it i.s pleasing to note that very low tradesmen are- out of employment. In tlio bricklaying trade a few good men arc required, and could obtain steady employment for some months. Tenders for the erection of somo new brick buildings arc about to be submitted, and these will furnish a further impetus in tho direction of employment. PALMEHSTON NORTH. . Trade has been very satisfactory during tho past month, , and labour-has been fully employed. Prospects for the future- aro bright.

Jonos and Brown and Smith, Aro sorely troubled with A corn that's not a raythj That's fairly tough. However, on thin air, Together they repair, Acro33 tho city square. To Barraolough. Sequel: His PROGANDRA for sure, Was a permanent euro. BARRACIiOUCirS PROGANDRA ' FOR CORNS, la.