TRADE AND LABOUR

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1521, 17 August 1912, Page 3

TRADE AND LABOUR

THE DEPARTMENT'S REPORT. Tho official organ of the Labour Department gives the following data as to tho condition of trade and labour in the centres of the Dominion during last month :— Wellington.—There is practically no alteration in tho condition of trade since the report of last month. The weather has been most unsettled, and outdoor work has been practically at a standstill. Retailers complain that on this account also their business has been considerably affected. Building trades still show signs of falling off. Bricklaying—.Several bricklayers are idle; the wet weather has seriously affected this trade. Carpentry and joinery rather slack; several men are unemployed. Plastering fair; a few men are out of employment; tho wet weather has caused a great deal of lost time to tradesmen. I'l.imbing and gasfittiug steady; all hands employed. Stonemasonry—_\ othiug much doing. ■Woodworking Trades.—Cabinctmaking and upholstering very fair. Coopering 6lack, Sash and door factories slack; not much .doing. Sawmilling slack. Woodturning, etc., quiet. Engineering' Trades. — Boilermaking good; no men unemployed. Brass and copper-smithing—All tradesmen fully employed. Electrical engineering fair. Titting and turning—This trade is improving. Iron and brass moulding—All hands employed. Kange-making steady. Leather Trades—Bootmaking (factories and repair-shops) fairly busy; this trade seems to be reviving. Saddlery and liarnessmaking busy; all hands fully cmplovClothing Trades.—Dressmaking and millinery—Slight falling' off in this industry, and staffs have been reduced Tor a time. _ Shirt-making still very busy. Tailoring (factories and order)—Koports favourable for this time of the season. Woollen-milling still fairly busy. Retail; Trades—Clothing—Fairly good trade has been done. Considering this is the off season, and that the new season's goods are to arrive shortly, trade is very fair. Considerable cash trade has been done .owing to sales of goods at reduced prices. The early, part of tho month has been exceptionally good, but tho latter , part,, owing to the excessivo wet weather, was not quite so' good. On the whole, there has been a considerable increase on last'year's traded .Groceries not quite so good as last month; the.wet weather interfered with business. Printing . trades.—Bookbinding and printing—There has been a slight fallingoff in these trades (luring the month; there is, however, sufficient work to keep the permanent staffs employed. Meat-freezing, etc—Tannin*, currving, and fellmongering continue fairly busy. Slaughtering, freezing, and preserving— Freezing-works practically closed down for the season,. Slaughtering is slack, the works killing for local consumption only. Coachbuilding - trades—Bhicksmithi'ng and coach, carriage, and tramcar-build-ing still very.quiet; barely sufficient work to keep permanent hands employed. Cycle and motor trades.—Trade is still slack, and'the wet season has kept business back. • ■ Unskilled labour'.—There has been little change in the condition of this class of labour .since 'last month, except that the applications for employment have slightly increased.'A' good'number of those calling includes men arriving from Reefton'and othor parts, of the South Island. No difficulty has, however, been experienced in placing all suitable and capable men applying for tho work required. There is'still'a demand for bushfellers, also for a-number of men used to dairyfarm w-ork and able to milk. "■ During the period employment has been found for 50 married men and-102 single ones, with a total of IG3 dependants; B.'i of those assisted proceeded to privato employment, and Gi) to Government works, and they comprised carpenters, farm hands, miners, and labourers. WANGA.NUI. Trade and business generally have been more varied than in the previous month. Wet and boisterous weather has seriously affected nil put-door work, and much time has been lost by thok) engaged thereon. The factories on tho whole have had a quieter month than last; particularly is this so in the textile trades, and some of the factories are at present working with reduced staffs. The wet weather has retarded bushfellihg operations,, and quito a number of buslimeu are m town awaiting moro favourable conditions. Building trades.—Bricklaying busy; n-ork lias been hindered owing to the bad weather conditions. - Carpentry and joinery busy, and house carpenters are wanted; tho prospects are good. Painting fair; the weather is responsible for a temporary slackness. Plastering.—There is still a demand for competent men in this branch. Plumbing and gasfitting.—Business is steady in these trades, and all hands aro constantly employed. PALMERSTON NORTH. The building trades have been specially busy lately, and seem likely to continue so. Al; Fox ton an epidemic of fires has practically cleared the whole of the town, and artisans are likely to be very busy there presently erecting new buildings. A loan.'of .£60,000 for a tramway service lias just been authorised, which must influoncq the labour market before very long. Building trades.—Bricklaying fair. Carpentry and joinery very good, and expected to continue so for some time to come; tho outlook is very promising indeed. Painting fairly bright; good prospects ahead. Plastering fair. Plumbing and gasfitting.—Plenty of work on hand, and more expected to offer. Stonemasonry satisfactory. During the month the Borough Council have issued twenty building permits of the value of _G235. MASTERTON. During the month the conditions of trade and labour generally have been greatly hampered by the continual wet weather experienced, qiid on this account the greater part of outdoor employment has been at a standstill. Retail business has suffered a great deal owing to the country people being unable to get into the town. When the fine weather sets in there should be nn increased demand for labour, in to place the various roads in proper repair after the recent numerous slips and washouts. In a few weeks' time a considerable activity should be shown. Retail trades.—Clothing: Trade has teen quiet in all departments during the month. Boots fair, but not up to the usual standard. Drapery.—L'nd-of.ensoii j sales.have been' held, but business is reported as dull. Groceries normal.

HASTINGS. Building trades—Uricklayinj; fair. Carpentry and joinery busy. 'Painting fair. Plasterinjj nonnal. Plumbing and gas'Ktting busy. Tho value of building permits i.snsd during Juno was ,-,.9_D. Woodworking trades.—Cabinet-taking and upholstering fair. Sash and door factories busy. SawTiiilling fair. Wood-turning fair; Engineering ''trail.-.—Agricultural-implement maki'ii;. fair. lioilermakitig normal, l-lectrical engineering.—An iuinroveinent has been shown. Iron and brass moulding, normal. Leather trades. —Bootmaking 'repair shops'" fair. Saddlery and harness-making normal. Ololhing trades.—l-rijssniakinK busy. Millinery busy. Tailoring forder) f|iiiet. Jletail trade?.—Clothing fair. Moots fair. Drapery quiet. Groceries fair.