TRADE & LABOUR IN WELLINGTON

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2273, 6 October 1914, Page 7

TRADE & LABOUR IN WELLINGTON

CONDITIONS BUOYANT

WAR SCARE WORN OFF

Special interest attaches to tli'e reports prepared by tlie Labour Department now, in view of the- war. The report for the period of September states that the- effects caused by the war upon the conditions of trade and labour have not, so far, proved very serious, and in some trades are not apparent, in some quarters where it was anticipated that a general shortening of hands would be'necessary, sufficient work has offered to keep hands fully employed. Retailers report business as more buoyant, and tho scare which prevailed during tho earlier part of August has worn off somewhat, while the tightness which was felt in ready money transactions has also relaxed. Tho building trades are a little quieter, and a few skilled men in tho various allied trades .are- fairly busy; satisfactory conditions are likely to continue for some time. The textile trades are quite 'up to the standard, with the exception, perhaps, of order tailoring, which, however, is usually quiet at this period of the year.

Unskilled Labour. The report, dealing with unskilled labour,; states that during'the month the number of callers in search of employment increased somewhat over the previous month. Weather conditions prevailing for outdoor employment were all that could bo desired, but farmers aro complaining of the dryness of the season. Many men who called <at the bureau were quite unfitted , for heavy manual labour, and others, both married and singlo, declined to leavo Wellington, preferring the city to country, lifo. The local "Unemployment Committee set up to deal with unemployment following on the war had met regularly, and had rendered material assistance in placing in work several deserving local applicants. Several* cooks (hoteland station), and shearingshed general hands were awaiting employment. I

The number of men assisted by the Labour Department was 270, comprising 69 married, and 201 single; in addition twelve wives and fourteen children who were joining their relatives were assisted. One hundred and ninetysix men were sent to private employment, and 74 to Government works. Trade Reports. The report on individual trades was as under:— Building Trades.—Bricklaying: Foirly bns.y. Carpentry and joinery: A few tradesmen are at present out of employment. Painting: Trado has slackened off since tho last'.report. Plastering: Busy. Plumbing and gasfitting: Busy; tradesmen are well employed. Wood-working Trades.-—Box-making: Busy. Cabinet-making and upholstering: Quiet I there'has been a slackness of orders in this trado since tho outbreak of the war. In some factories hands are working reduced hours. Coopering : Busy. Sash and door factories: Fair. Sawmilling: Fair.

Engineering Traders.—Boilormaking: Fairly busy. Brass and copper-smith-ing, and olectrical engineering: Fair. Fitting and turning: Busy. Iron and brass moulding: Fairly busy. Rangemaking: Busy. Leather Trades. —Bootmaking (factories) : Sufficient work on hand to keep regular staff employed. Bootmaking (repair shops): Busy. Saddlery and haniess-mnking: Trade not so good as last -month, but hands are kept fully oinployeil. • ■■•.'.■,

Clothing Trades.—Dressmaking and millinery: Trade is a little below the usual standard; in a few cases only, however, has it been found necessary to reduce hands. Shirt-making: Very busy. Tailoring (factories): Very busy; a considerable amount of overtime has been worked. Tailoring (order): Fair; this is usually a quiet period; trade should improve during the next month. Woollen-milling: Busy. •

Retail Trades.—Clothing: Business fair. Boots: Business quite up to the usual • standard. Drapery: Occupiers are satisfied with the volume of bustness transacted, which has, during the fiionth, assumed almost its 'normal aspect. Groceries: Business normal.

'Printing Trades. — Bookbinding: Quiet; it is with difficulty that the regular staffs are kept employed. Printing: Jobbing, quiet; busy in the news branches.

Meat freezing, etc. —Tanning, currying, and fellniongering: Fair. Slaughtering, freezing, and preserving: The average amount of stock for this period of the year lias been ■ treated at the local works.

• Coachbuilding Trades.—Blacksmithing: Fair; few, if .any, men are put of employment. Coach, carriage, and tram-car building: Busy. ~ .

Cycle and motor . is not quite up to the usual standard; sales have fallen, off considerably.

Miscellaneous.—Biscuit and confectionery trades are fairly .busy, and good time is being worked. . Labour union secretaries report that conditions are fairly good in nearly nil trades.

NEW PORT RECORD. PLENTY OF WORK AVAILABLE; . Last month was one of 'the busiest in the history of the port of Wellington, and Captain H. Johnson, Harbourr master, and his staff.had a particularly busy tinie in consequence. In all 59 vessels wore handled, and the net tonnage represented .276,433 tons. All the work was carried out without mishap or any ,unnecessary delay. _ The,, .war placed further responsibilities on the shoulders of Captain Johnson and his staff, and this added to increased shipping gave the authorities a strenuous time. Since Saturday afternoon six large oversea steamers have arrived in port. Theso included the Tainui and Ruahine from London, Corinthic from Auckland, Physa from Singapore, Arrino from Bunbury, and the Waitemata from Sydney. In consequence the wharves at Wellington yesterday presented a veritable forest of masts. Something of a record for the Dominion was put up, there being no fewer than sixteen ocean-going vessels at the wharves. In addition to these there were four' deep : sca vessels in the stream. Tho aggregate gross tonnage of all vessels in port was 133,632 tons.. The gross tonnage represented by tho twenty oversea vessels in port was approximately 120,000 tons. Altogether there wcro 34 vessels at the various wharves, and 12 in the stream —a total of 46 trading craft. Wharf iabourors experienced no difficulty in obtaining work, and it -was 6aid that the demand oxceeded the. supply. Indications point to the next week or so being very busy on the. waterfront, as several oversea steamers havo yet to arrive CONDITIONS IN AUCKLAND. (By Telegraph.—Pxc£s Aesooiation.) Auckland, October 5. Tho record of tho number of men applying each week for work at the Auckland office'of tho Labour Department gives tho following figures, indicating" the , position in the city very clearly :— Week ending September 12. —Married applicants, 149; single applicants, 106; dependents of applicants, 418; work found fov (12, ... ...-.•., Week ending September IS.—Married,

130; single, 102; dependents, 382; workfound for 16. Week ending September 26.—Married, 129; singlo, 112; dependents, 336; work found for 47. Week ending October i.— Married, 102; single, 99; dependents, 286; work found for 64.