DEMAND FOR LABOUR

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2247, 5 September 1914, Page 5

DEMAND FOR LABOUR

THE OFFICIAL REPORT

CONDITIONS FAIRLY GOOD.

More tlian ordinary interest attaches to the report of the Labour Department for the month of August, as it is. tho first roport compiled sinco hostilities broke out. Tho, report states that, taking into consideration tlie . unsettled conditions caused by the war, thb general state of tho labour market for tho month cau bo considered as satisfactory. The building trades aro normal,, and there is reported to bo a fair amount of. contract work now

in hand. The tailoring trade has been very busy, and a considerable amount of overtime has been worked to cope with the demands 'made for clothing for the Expeditionary Force; this also applies to the boot-making factories. Retailers' reports aro of a, varied nature. Storekeepers and grocers had a busy time at the beginning' of tho month, owing to purchasers laying in 'stocks of flour and sugar, but at present the business is normal. Jewellers, fancy goods dealers, aiid ; drapers, report that their, turnover is considerably below the usual standard. . Work on the Troopships. The- report states that although tlie number of applicants for employment increased since last report, the conversion of various steamers _ into troopships has absorbed all suitable applicants, particularly carpenters, shipwrights, and painters. About 20 per cent, of those who applied for work wore not fitted for heayy manual labour. Weather conditions have been oxcellent for outdoor employment, and a good deal of , business, has been done with farmers. Up to the present practically all their requirements have been met. At the close of the month, howover, several positions were availablo for milkers in the Taranaki district. The number of men assisted was 197, of whom 50 were married, and 147 single, with 164 defendants: Eighty were sent to Government works,, and 117 to private employment. Wollinßton Trados.

Regarding' the demand for tradesmen in Wepington the report furnishes the following particularsßricklaying: Fairly busy. Carpentry, and joinery: Thero has been a demand for earpouters. during the month, but now that the fitting up of tho transports is nearly completed there are i a few men out of employment. Painting: At the timo of writing all' painters are employed, but work in hand is nearing' completion, and a number of men cmployed on the transports have been dismissed. Plastering: Fair. Plumbing and gasfitting: There is a fair amount of ; work available, \and few, if any, men are idle. Box-making: Busy. Cabinet-making and upholstering: Fair, though trade is a little quieter than laiit month. Coopering: Quiet. Sash and door factories:' Joiners have been well employed during, the period, and there is a fair amount or work in hand. Wood-turning, etc.: Fair. En-; sincoring trades: All branches ' have been busy throughout the period, the ifitting-up of tho troopships having provided a groat amount of work. Future indications are that men will be kept

fully employed for somo time to come. Boot-mating factories: A rush of work to supply urgent orders for the Defence authorities has" found employment for all available men. Saddlery and harness-making: Trad© lias boon exceptionally busy, and ordinary work ,hss had to stand asido to allow urgent .orders for. the Expeditionary Forco to be oompleted. . Clothing trade: Dressmaking and milliner,y: There' has been .1 slight falling-off in ' the volume of business dene, but there has not been any necessity to shorten • hands to any considerable extent. Shirt-making: Very busy. Tailoring (factories): A considerable • amount of overtime > has been worked, : and orders in hand will keep employees going for some time. Tailoring (order): Fair; there has been a falling-off in the orders during the month, and some of the shops have reduced hands. These, however, _ have readily found work in tho factories. Retail Trading. Retail trades.—Clothing: Business fair. Boots: Fairly good. ' Drapery: Trade, except in the fancy goods and smaller lines, has been quite up to the usual standard. Groceries: There was a- rush for largo' quantities of household commodities, when the' outbreak of war was announced. Bookbinding: Quiet. Printing: Fairly busy;, work is confined principally to the nowapaper printing, and in tlio jobbing rocm : 3 work is quiet. Tanning, currying, and fellmongery: Fair. Slaughtering, freezing and preserving: Work is confined to local consumption. Blacksmithing : General blacksmitliing is busy: Coach, carriage, and tranvcaT buiiding: Some of tho coachbuilderis have 'been kept busy. with work for the : Expeditionary Force. Other - employera report business as fair. Cycle and motor trades: Trade has quietened off somewhat since laat report.