LABOUR REVIEW.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1750, 15 May 1913, Page 8

LABOUR REVIEW.

6- ; [ OFFICIAL MONTHLY REVIEW. i ' 'I'rnitp during -tlio month in Wtllinglfin (slides (ho Labour Wppni'tmi'iil's moiittily lvvion- fur April) lui.-i hepu {{oncrally inii'ly K«i)(l. Jtrii'klii.rcrs have lii-oii lvop't I'allv onipluycd, anil carpi'iitry anil joincry lias- >hu\vu an ihijnovrmrnt. Palnlorrf | ami jila.-iorrrs have iilmi l;wn kept fairly . IniM-, lull: pliunl.inj; hus nat c|iiiie a-: l;ri>k us in (lie pwious mmitii. Ji'ool,'l'aoluries) Inn al.-o Ijccn rjuielj anil lliore lis ;i jiunilK-r <if men iille. l!c- ---. tail elntliier-, hoot-sellers, ami drapers roimrl. ,'i iniily muntli, but, unieer.s report u I'allinn-oll' as cmnpared with the previous riiiiiilli. to |lie completion of llie harvest'-' iii!, r in flic south, anil more generally to the fact .link Innliiinß operalions arc i stark, tlio nuiuher of ineu applying for work has increased considerably.* -\n increase of applicants is expected at this time of year. There appears to be very tittle prospcct for unskilled labour i;i AVellinglon at present, 't'bere are n good many fairly-large building contracts koing on just now, but most of them have progressed beyond Ihe point of afl'ordinff work to the unskilled hands. Outside of tlio city ilself the call for men has fallen oil' ,lo a miiiimuui, and - beyond vacancies for ploughmen anil n few Ronei'nl farm hands there is no work olterins. Tlio state of the Labour market in tlio otlier eenlrcs may be summarised us follows:— Jlasterton.—'.L'rado and labour conditions havo continued somewhat quiet during tho period just, ended. Although workers throughout the majority of industries have made fairly steady time, there lias not been any detinito improvement experienced, and not much demand for tradesmen or unskilled workers. The local freezing works, which is the largest employer of labour in this district, has continued very steady during the month, and there has been 110 slackness apparent there, the men making very fair timo throughout. The dairying industry continues to maintain a fair supply of milk to the various factories, but will soon slacken oil'. Ploughing operations have occupied tho time of a fair number of workers, and a considerable amount of winter cropping bus boon undertaken. Building operations continue to maintain :i fair level, and good carpenters are in demand. Coachbuitdiiig, blacksmithing, ami engineering trades have been slightly quieter, whilst general retail business is also' reported to bu rather nuict. Otaki.—- Tho condition of trado during tho past month lias been quiet. A depression still exists in tho money market, although the conditions of employment aro reported satisfactory, and local hands appear to be fairly well employed. Tho milk supply to the various factories has shown a slight falling-olf, but taken throughout has maintained a- good standard. Building trades havo continued brisk, all local hands being fully employed. There is practically no demand for' unskilled labour, and local bands can till all the vacancies offering. There havo bceu no applications for work. Ditriil? the past week a few swaggers havo passed through the district, but they do not appear to be tho class of pcoplo really looking for work. Palinerston Xortli. —Trade generally has been very satisfactory during the past month, and the outlook is good. Labour also has been fairly plentiful, tho weather being specially suitable for outside work to be carricd on. Xo work for unskilled labour has been available during tlie pnst month, nnd there is little likelihood of any carl}' change; local labour more than supplies the demand. Waiiganiii.—'f'rado generally has shown a falling-off during the past month, particularly ill the building trades. There is, however, a number of tenders being called for the erection of largo buildings, which, will keep a large proportion of the workers in these, trades employed throughout tlie winter. Tho building of dwellings in tlio suburbs is very quiet at present, and the future does not hold out any prospect of improvement for some time. Tho builders who aro in small way of business aro very pessimistic with regard to the prospocts for the wintetr. Engineering is also quiet, tlio work being principally confined to repairs. The textile trades are busy, and the conditions obtaining are considered very satisfactory for this period of tho year. Reports' from tlio retailers are of a satisfactory nature, and tlio month's turnover is quite up to the standard. The local freezing works is working at full pressure. but a falling-off is anticipated during the next month, which will, of coursc, necessitate the shortening of hands. Thero has been no- diminution in the number of callers seekin'g unskilled wofk. Very little of this class of labour is offering. I'atea.—All trades with tho exception of bricklaying and plastering are reported to be tairly busy. Local unskilled labour is well employed, .New Plymouth.—Trade generally continues satisfactory, and with tho exception of a few unskilled labourers there is practically no unemployment. The building trade is not brisk, but thcro is sufficient doing to employ all available labour. lietailers report trade as normal for the ume of the year. Tiio work at the..oil relincry is being pushed on, and tho company hopo to. start operations shortly. Work at tho local wliiirf is steady, and the overseas boats loading frozen meat at Waitara luivo started -with local labour, instead of importing men from Wellington, as, was the practice formerly. Hastings.—The volume of business transacted in this town is deemed to be satisfactory. The demand for unskilled labour is not equal to the supply. Tho secretary of the General Labourers' Union reports that employment is considered liiTriual, and men are working full time when weather will permit. No vacancies aro oll'ering, anil there aro several union men idle.' lie predicts that as winter approaches the position will become moro acute. Napier.—Tho demand for unskilled labour this month has been small. Towards tho end of the month rather more than the usual number of men havo called seeking employment, two-thirds of whom have come from outside the disLriet. Trade all round for the artisans may be considered fair. Carpenters complain of a slackness, although openings in the couUtry havo not been taken up rapidly. There is inquiry for a few good bushmcn and a competent quarryinan. Tlie tramway construction work is the principal source of employment at present, between thirty and forty lncn being employed. The secretary of the 'Waterside "Workers' Union reports that the wharf men have been busy on the overseas boats, but there are really more ineu | offering than suflicieut to meet requirements. Gisborne.—A slight falling-oil. of trade in nearly all branches has been apparent during the mouth. Tho recent heavy . raius, although wclcomo to the settlers, have chc;-ked country work to some extent-, more especially tho building trade, and it. is probable that very little building work will be done in the country for- i some months to come. There has been an increase in tho number of applicants for unskilled labour during the month. •