TRADE & LABOUR

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1724, 15 April 1913, Page 6

TRADE & LABOUR

« POSITION IN MARCH. The "Labour Journal" publishes tho following report on (he state of trade and labour in Wellington during last month. It runs as follows:— "The conditions of trade in most branches show considerable improvement, and considerable overtime is being woiked, particulaj'ly in the dressmaking, shirlmaking, and tailoring trades. Tho building trade has been slightly quiet; at the same time there are no tradesmen idle, all being kept employed on jobbingwork; (hero is a considerable amount of renovating being carried on. The geueral 'retail trades report that fair business is being done, considering this,, is the off season of tho year, and- that tho Easter holidays were earlier than in previous years, following close on the midsummer holidays, which naturally reduced the spending-power. The outlook for the future, however, appears fairly good. Building trades: Bricklaying fairly good, and all competent tradesmen are fully employed. Carpentry and joinery— Although there has been u slight fallingoff during tho month, trade gc-nerally can be considered fairly good. Painting—Con siderable improvement since last report, chietiy on renovating work; all hands fully employed. Plastering is still qujet. Plumbing and gasfitting continues fairly brisk. Stonemasonry—There is very little work of this description going on at the present time. Woodworking trades: Boxtnaking still continues good. Cabinetmaking and upholstering very busy; good upholsterers required. Coonering—Steady business' being done. Sash and door lactones, sawmilling, and wood-turning, etc.—Although slightly (jtt&tor than' previous months, there are no tradesmen idle. Engineering trades: Boilermaking has shown a slight improvement since last month. Brass and copper-smithing very fair. Electrical engineering continues satisfactory; several country- orders arc keeping those in the trade well employed. Pitting and turning—There has been a general improvement during the last few weeks. Iron and brass moulding—Slight improvement. Kangemaking is about normal. leather trades: Bootmaking (fnctories) very busy; all hands fully employed. Bootmaking (repair-shops) fairly good. Saddlery and harnessmaking—Trade gen. erally is considered very satisfactory, and equal to that of previous months. Clothing trades: Dressmaking and millinery—Considering the season of the year trade is very satisfactory. Sliirtmaking extra, good; all available overtime is being made. Tailoring (factories) very busy; there are vacancies for girls. Tailoring (order)— Improvement on previous month has been shown. Woollen-milling very busy; there is a demand for boys and girls. Retail trades: Clothj.ng—Slight fallingoif during the month. Boots—Fair business has been done. Drapery slightly quiet; prospects are fairly good for-ivin-ter season. Groceries-fairly good. Printing trades: Bookbinding and printing—Good trade is being done generally. Meat-freezing, etc.: Tanning, currying, fellmongering, and slaughtering, freezing, and preserving—There is still further improvement on previous months, and the outlook appears promising. Coachbuilding trades: Blacksmithing and coach, carriage, and tramcar .building fairly good; an'improvement on previous months. Cycle and motor trades fairly busy in repair work; there is a slight fallingoff in sales, \ Unskilled labour: During the month outside workers have generally made full time owing 'to the fine .weather experienced. Work in the city'lias teen satisfactory, and all local married men. who were able and fit for heavy work have had no difficulty in obtaining employment. There has been a demand fo* rabbit-poisoners, flaxmill hands, scrub-, cutters, and bushfellers, -whilst the demand for good ploughmen at present exceeds the supply, the. wages offered being in many cases up: to XI 10s. per week. Employment has been found for CI married and ICS single men, with a total of 105 dependants; 10G proceeded to private employment and C.'l to Government works, their occupations being as follow:—Bootmakers, bricklayers, carpenters, farm hands, miners,.plasterers, and labourers." . .