THE LABOUR MARKET.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1989, 20 February 1914, Page 3

THE LABOUR MARKET.

OFFICIAL REPORT FOR JANUARY.

The Labour Jonrnal for the month ended January 31, 1913,-supplies the' following particulars regarding industrial conditions:— Wellington. '•Dnriiig the month tberoliss been a falliiiL'-oft m some branches of trade, but this is not. unusual in January. Reports received from the majority of retail shopkeepers indicate that trade has been of a satisfactory nature, quite on a par with, and in some Cases better than, during- the corresponding penod of last year, In tho draporv, clothing, mercery, and boot- business, stock-taking sales are in vogue, and occupiers express themselves as satisfied withi tho amount of trade doing. The building trades generally mav bo considered as fairly gooct, although in the, painting, plumbing, ■ ami stonoroascuiry • branches there arc some men idle. An improvement, however, is anticipated in February, Work on tin; waterfront is going on steadily, ami with tho loading and discharging of several lar.-r 0 oversea steamers during the past fortnight, tho wharves have presented quite a busy appearance, whilst the arrival of large cargoes from other parts has kept workers busy in discharging operations. A slight increase was noticeable in the number of applicants for unskilled labour this month, as compared with the previous one. The bulk of tho ap-. plications were made bv unskilled labourers, who desred work in tho city itself. Beyond a very active month on tho wharves there ' was no special call for; unskilled labour in the city. Some difficulty was experienced by the Department in inducing men to'take work m the country districts, and an offer for roadmen at 10s. per dav in the Unakune district was not readily accepted, As is usually the case in January, a largo'number of men drifted '" f ™! n .i*e country districts to spend the Christmas and Now Year holidays in town. Most of these men le'ft themselves without the necessary means to return to,work. No difficulty in dealing with applicants is expected for some tune, to conic, as there appears to be ample employment offering in the country districts for all workers willing to accept same. Tho only trouble like"V to . aH . se is. with those men who decline to leave the city, and ethers who are. not used to Iww manual work, l.oe-cl milkers are still in great demand, and could be placed, at remuiieraiiv* rates. Puruig the month 107 men were assisted—viz., twenty-nine married with seventy-one dependants, and seventyeight siHglo men, comprising earpniwrs, hotel workers, farm hands, gavdeners, bushmen, tailors, laborers': minors, etc Twenty-seven eame from the North Wand, ten from tho South Island, nine from tho Commonwealth. fifty-four Iroln Groafc „ rita ; . and seven trom various parts." Napier: Trade and labour conditions during the month, have been very saliV liwtory indeed.

Wanganui:- Business has resumed its r.ormal conditions after the Christmas rush, Skilled trades have bem less ;'o« tire for some- time past. Very little work is offering sbont town for unskilled .workers. Milkers and farm hands are wanted.

Palmerstou North: Work has been fairly plentiful during tin? past month, and the fine weather has been specially helpful to outside workers. Carpenter's have been fully employed, and a considerable amount of overtime is being worked; several'big jobs arc on hand, and more expected to start, during the nestmonth. ;, :: . New Plymouth: Trade and labour conditions have shown a slight improvement during' the past month, owing mainly to the business done at the season's sales. "■■-.. Mastorton: Good weather, has made it passible to harvest the crops in splendid condition. The building trade has been very quiet in all branches since the. holidays. Retail trade is £ood. The freezing company is working at- greater pressure than for years past. Nelson: There has been a slight fall-ing-off in retail business during - the month. Jlauiifact-jriiiK trades, except tailoring and dressmaking, are Quito >ip to their usual standard. Fruit, urescrvijijj factories are busy. Fuli time has been worked in nearly every trade.

Other Centres. Auckland: Trade, generally sneaking, has experienced a slackening' off during tho period. • The building trade is quiet, and many general labourers are unemployed.' There is, however, a demand for experienced farm hands. Ghristcl-mrch: fiio conditions in most of the. manufacturing and retail trades have been fairly good during the month, although the building and "allied trades have been rather quiet, 'flic- weather during the month has 'oi.-en oj-eellent, iuth the result that shearing has been practically completed in tho. district. Harvesting operations are in full swing, and in spite of tile continuous rain and heavy winds . experienced during the month .the prospects ar<s encouraging. Satisfactory yields are expected both in wheat arid- oats, while fte hay crops generally arc satisfactory. Dunediu: During tlio period just ended trade and business threwbout has commenced to recover somewhat fre.ni tho seriously disorganised state of t'lte previous month, it is, liowovor, to to expected that, it will be-tome time yet before a thoroughly normal state is ar* I rived at with respect to all of the industries affected by tho recent strike.