LABOUR MARKET

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2129, 22 April 1914, Page 3

LABOUR MARKET

CONDITIONS IN MARCH

DEPARTMENT'S REVIEW

Iu its report on labour conditions in Wellington during; March ike "Journal of "eparlment of Labour'' states:

Trade and labour conditions have. aSown a .slight improvement in some branches whilst •in others prospective, betterment has not materialised. Building trades generally have remained about the same as last month, and may be described as quiet. It! the principal branches there are several men idle.; Retail trades have been good, and the month's trade compares favourably with tfta® of tfae corresponding period of previous Tears. There Was, however, a little more briskness during the latter pari of Slarch of last year en account' of Easter season approaching. .Seasonal sales are still iu vogue in soma of the shops; the prospects for winter trade are said to be fairly good. Clothing trades (including dressmaking, tailoring, and shin-making) have been brisk, and a considerable amount of estra. time has been worked in these factories.

BuiKiing Tradt-S.—Bricklaying: Joar» jieymen appear to be fairly well employed on several buildings in course of erection.. Carpentry, and joinery: These branches are reported to have bceu on the'quiet side, with a slight falling-off during the past couple of weeks. • Trade is, however, cxpectcd'to pick up shortly, and some of the men rendered idle temporarily are now beginning to find empioyftieat again. The workers' union secretary rc-pons that about- twenty of •his members are at present signing the employment-hook, Painting trade is still quiet, and there does not -seem any prospect of much- steady work in the immediate future. Plumbing and gaslifting have - been'fairly btisy, although not so good as during March of pre* wous'years.- There are -some men seeking employment. Plastering is dull, and some men have left for other parts in 'search of work. There does not, seem to bo much prospect of trade brightening np to any extent for another month or so. Stouemasonry has been fair, but a few' men are- still idle,

Woodworking Trades.—Cabinet ma feing has been.' fairly busy, and, so far as', cart be ascertain!!?}, all hands are employed. Upholstering has been rather «u the glow side, but most of the employees have made fairly regular time. Haws&illregi coopering, and sash and doer 'factories: An average, trade has beeaSMaifttained in these branches, and reports.to ba.nd :shoiv'that there lias been ao fallmg-elf since last, 'month. Trade,' however, is not as brisk, as was anticipated. . Engineering Trades (including, iron. ■ brass moulding, boiler-making, fitting and • turning, ■ and range-making) arc still inclined to be slightly quiet, although there has bean a-turn for the better in one or two foundries. -Nearly, all regular .hands have been employed full time, but, oii.the whole, trade canaoi.bo considered.good, fe-rassfouiuihig has been about the same as last mouth —quiet, but occupiers have managed to keep the hands on.full time. Electrical e»g.tne.erhig fairly brisk, and a- little overtime fas been worked. Prospects | for the uost month or two are said to fee good. Leather. Trades.—Bootmaking (fac> lories and repaii-shops); Trade is reported to have, been very good; all hands have bcen_ fully employed, and in some-factories through shortage of labour . overtime has been worked. Bad» diery and barnessma-kißg hare been fairly, good. ;'" >'• Clothing Trades,-r-dJressmakin.g and millinery trades have been good l , and in, some of tho' dressmaking workrooms overtime has been put in. Tailoring 1 (factories) are.very iiusy, as is usual at' this time of year, and a considerable ainoftftt of ■overtime has been, forked. Tailoring (shops): Trade has-brightened' up since last report, and some, workrooms are at present.busy with Easter orders. As iar as can be gathered, there are no extra hands required.; Woollen-milling: Tbfe usual steady trade; has . been -main-tamed, with all hiinds fully employed. There lias been no overtime worked. Eots.il Trades,^Clothing, boots,-drap-ery, mercery, and groceries: The majority of shopkeepers report that very fair-trade has been the rule throughout, tlio month, and that the period' compares favourably with the same month oi previous; years.' . Printing Trades.—Printing aud bookbinding'are reported to-haver been fairly goods and in - some factories overtime has'been worked.

• Meak-freesusg, eta.—Factories »r* still in full swing, with plenty, of stock, coming in.

Ceacbbuilding. . .Trades.—Blacksmitbing,' and coacH, carriage, and traweaf buildins, painting, and repairing: These trades 1»avo bwn fairly good, mora especially on motor work.Crete ' and Motor Trades.—Repair wort has keen very good, but •in one of- two instances, a. slight- falling-oil in sales is reported.

TinstiHed Labour.—-During the month the number of callers seeliing employment has increased. At time of report there is very l.ittte inquiry -for tlijs class of labour iu Verity.. Country employers are recognising the- benotfi of this branch of the Department, and,'as a resijlt, a. greater number of persons have been seat to employment to o-tft-side tennis aiid districts. Tho number assisted during the period was 214, of whoru. 43 wero married and 171 were single men; 186 were seat to private employment aud 28 to (Joretnfflout works.' These comprised carpenters, coachworkcrs, blacksmiths, busnfellers. bakers, drivers, fara hands., hotel bauds., plasterers, general labourers, etc. Ibirty-eigfit came from the North Island,' 3-t from . the South Island, 24 from the Corainomrealth, 104 from Great Britain and ,14 from other . countries. T?i addition to the above, 12 lyiyes and 6 children were assisted to join- their relatives,

IN OTHER CENTRES, ■ • ■ i Conditions of tfado are reported to bavo improved slightly iu Auckland, but the effects of the strike are stall being felt, oart-iculariy in, tlw building and allied"trades.-Retailers report that, business is better -than at this time last year, and money easier thair for some time'past.' 'Die- unskilled .labour market has-hewr far-from satisfactory so far as the city is.concerned.-

Napier.---Condi l-ions for the mouth under review have not been so bright as for the; previous one. This, in the main, is attributable to the large influx of workers from other .districts- connected with many branches of trade. The unwonted activity of tlio building and allied-trades of late necessitated the ad- i vent e-f an unusual number of workers to t-ho-district, tat it is now quite evident that there are iuoro than enough to-meet all demands. The exceedingly 1 bad weather experienced . lately ' has materially affected the caniilig-poiver of outdoor workers. . New PlymouthTho quiet state of trade reported last mouth still c-ou-. tinues. The majority of retail houses report that business "is still, below normal. There- is a fair amount of building fohig on. and the majority of the trades aro fully'employed. Engineering trades, with the exception' ef electrical and ■ motor work, aro somewhat quiet. Tho local joinery-works are busy, but, fvtrnitu re-manufacturing is quiet. Tlio boot and shoe-making and shirt«making7fac- : torio-s are busy. Unskilled labour is in small demand, and, although the Borough Council has a big staff working, there hK> a mnaber of 'men out of em* , ployment. fVaaaunui.—the' whole trade ana

business have been quieter than_ during ■(lie preceding month. The building awl tho textile trades are quits up to standard for this period of the year» ; b«t> *»n the other hand, (lie engineering, furniture, and. e-oacitbuildiivg trades are. ex- ! periencing slackness. The cud. of: the : meat-frer-zing season is approaching. and ■ a- reduction of hands will be necessary. I Palioerston North .-—Trade _ generally I ha.-, been fairly satisfactory during tJO past month. Thoso engaged in Wilding operations have been fairly l»i»y, a, "l outside workers have bad little cau.se to complain, the weather renditions having been favourable. Coachhnildingt however, has been rather slack, and several of the flasmiHs -closed.down, while, others .expect to eea.w operatic-iis' shortly. . Jlastertoii.—After period of depression iu the building and allied trades, matters have lately shown a. considerable improvement. Journeyman carpenters hare been in short, supply, and several firms Slave been inquiring for painters and paperhangers.' Steck is still coming in freely to the AVainga-wa-freezing- works, and jstereased accommodation in the butchering aad other ifci partmenls is badly .wanted. Tho eeasoii will probably extend into July.

show .a. marked improvement. espeeailly in the building traces, Very few good tues-i aw idle. - Retail .businesses .wo irp to their usual standard for this tias&of tb» year. In the engineering -trades tte conditions are about the saw ;is in • the previous report. Clothing factories, report steady business. Tbe'freesiug industry is still on the improve, and iii.a. peek or two tho works w'jll he- going ."it-high pressure. Tri-unskilled lafeoiir present indicatkms are that .t;nemploJ*meitt trouble will te severe during the coming winter. 'There, are already 230 nieu reported out-of work. •

ouuedin.--Bn&uwss, . generally. _ lias been of a- quiet nature. The ' building trades show very ■ little improvement throughout Agricultural' implewafc «ianirfar*nri«g fliid other ironworising trades report a fairly busy iiioHtb.'Tlia leather tracks generally have shown fairly goad.business, and the clothing trades in scrao instances are- Bliab-Ie to overtake t-li-e press :of • orders. The woollen-milling industry continues very busy, thero being a slierta-go of iejflale operatives. (VW.ilmildi'.ig. and. Mack-. I smithinji'is found rather quiet.- The reI tail trades generally report-a' varjr qaiot Month in almost .ill branches. .