LABOUR MARKET.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1522, 19 August 1912, Page 8

LABOUR MARKET.

The general state of the labour market at Napier (states the report of'the Labour Department for last month) can bo summed up as dull. The drapery establishments have had a month of sides, and the returns have been fairly satisfactory; but there has not been the same activity in the general business transacted as that of previous months. This, no doubt, can bo accounted for in no small measure by tho fact that the corporation have reduced tho staff working on the various loan works, and this in turn must materially affect the volume of business transactel. The grocery establishmentsreport a fair month's transactions. Butchers' trade appears to be somewhat stationary. The building trades have, on tho whole, had a good month, though many men have lost time, owing to the inclemency of the weather. Bricklayers have not been' in demand; but carpenters have been advertised for in Napier, and, though there arc men farther down the line unemployed, yet they cannot, through circumstances, remove to the districts where work is somewhat more plentiful.. The weather has been completely against painters, but there has not been any demand for work or workers. The f'urni-' hire trade has had a better month, and there appears to be every indication that this -trade will improve. Plumbers have been in demand, especially men holding certificates; several havo recently left the district, and consequently (here has been a shortage of men who can undertake sanitary work. The pan-milling industry has had a good month, but the state of the roads' in the country districts somewhat mitigates against tho success of those engaged in that portion of the trade. The engineering trades have been steady, and a fair amount of overtime has been worked. Tho ironmongers report that the prosent month has sliown a slight improvement on Inst month's transactions. The tailoring trade is somewhat quiet; 0110 or two establishments have been working overtime, but, taken on the whole, (lie slato of trado can be chronicled ns fair. Tho freezing-works have slackened off very considerably, and this in turn affects the wool and tannery works.