TRADE & LABOUR.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1883, 17 October 1913, Page 3

TRADE & LABOUR.

LOCAL POSITION. Referring to trade in Wellington dining tho month of September tho Journal of tho Department of Labour states as follows:—

Reports Tcceived from shopkeepers and manufacturers tend to show that there has been a noticeable improvement in trado during t'lio past month compared with that, of tho previous period. 111 some branches, however, notably the building, engineering, and furniture trades, a quiet tone has prevailed, but business lias been better than during August. Retail businesses report an improvement, especially during the past week or two, and as tho season advances a still further betterment is looked for. Waterside work has been slack generally. Tho secretary of the union reports that an increased number of men have been applying for work in anticipation of the busy season, which has not yet arrived. ,-Very littlo improvement is expccted until about the beginning of November, when tho wool and butter season commences. Unskilled labour: During the month there has been no appreciable increase in the number of men seeking work at the Labour office. Employment in the country ha 3 been plentiful, and at the present time there is an unsatisfied demand for general farm hands. There aro some thirty positions for this class of worker still unfilled. In the city there has been very littlo work offering, and consequently a number of single and married men who either cannot or will not go into tho country remain unemployed. A fow men have been sent to Government works at Huntly, Stratford, and Gisbome, but at present there aro no further vacancies. During the month employment lias been found for 178 men (64 married and 114 single) having 179 dependants; 137 wore sent to private employment, and 41 to Government works. Tho occupations of tlioso assisted were as follow:—Bakers, carpenters, farm hands, engine-drivers, gardeners and grooms, miners, and labourers, of which 69 camo from the North Island, 29' from the South Island, 61 from Great Britain, 12 from the Commonwealth, and 7 from other parts. The women's employment branch reports that during tho month the following engagements were made: Charwomen, 22; domestic workers, 12 j lioiisemaids, 4; lady-helps, 4; seamstresses, 2; pantrymaid, 1; nurse, 1; married couple, 1; cooks, 2; matron, 1 ; office-assistant, 1; caretaker, 1; total. 52; and 3 domestic workers were assisted to Auckland, making a total of 55. One lady-help, l day-worker. 2 cooks, and 2 domestic workers called and registered their names, but did not. call again or they could have been suited. The dearth of domestic workers is as keenly felt as ever, consequently a large number of engagements aro distributed amongst tho day-workers.