TRADE BUOYANT

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2402, 6 March 1915, Page 8

TRADE BUOYANT

PROSPECTS FOR THE FUTURE

NO CAUSE FOR ANXIETY

The report of the Labour Department on trade and' labour conditions in Wellington for the past month is of a satisfactory nature, and states that despite pessimism in some quarters regarding the approaching winter, "there is nothing to warrant any undue anxiety for the future." It is interesting to note that the drapers record satisfactory trade at the summer sales, for this ..particular business usually reflects any'depression in the town. The report states:— It is pleasing to report'that the general condition of trade and labour is satisfactory. Trade lias fluctuated during the month, but there are fewer miemployed than usual for this period of tho year. There is a feeling of pessimism in some quarters regarding the approaching winter, but there is nothing to warrant any undue anxiety for the future. Tho building trades slackened off during the month, the carpentering trade being most affected, and a number of men are out of employment. There is, however, work to be put in hand shortly which will, absorb most of those offering. The engineering trades are in a good, condition, and are likely to continue so for,some considerable time to come. The textile trades are experiencing a very busy time, and nearly all the factories are working overtime. Shopkeepers report a fair turnover; the drapers and clothierß have just completed their summer sales and express themselves satisfied with the volume of business transacted. Trade Reports. Detailed reports for the variouß trades are:—. Bricklaying: Fairly busy. Carpentry and joinery: At present a number of men a-re out of employment; these men were principally engaged on the fitting up of the transports. Painting: Tradesmen have been well employed throughout the month, and few, if any, men are out of employment. Plastering: Fair. Plumbing and gasfitting: Busy, no men idle.

Wood-working trades.—Boxmaking: | Busy. Cabinetmaking and upholstering : Fair; there has been just sufficient work to keep regular hands fully employed. , Coopering: Busy. Sash and door factories: A few factories have found it difficult to keep their full staff employed; trade has been a little quieter than the preceding month. Engineering Trades.—All branches of the engineering trade have beeii busy throughout the period. This activity appears likely to continue for some time. 1 Leather Trades.—Bootmaking, (factories) : Good time has been worked in all factories and employment is available for all competent hands. Saddlery and harness Very busy; most'of the factories are working at high pressure to supply urgent orders for the Defence, authorities.

Clothing Trades.—Dressmaking ( and millinery: There has been a falling off in the volume of, business transacted. A slight reduction of hands has been found necessary in sooie factories. Shirtmaking : Very busy; a considerable amount of overtime has been worked during the month in this trade; employees are badly wanted. Clothing Trades.—Tailoring (factories) : All factories are working at high pressure to complete orders for uniforms required by the Defence authorities. Tailoring (order): Fair; there has been a falling off in the' orders during the month; some of the shops have reduced hands; these, however, have readily found work in the large factories. '

Rotail Trades.—The turnover has been up to the standard in most trades. The summer sales have been successful. Jewellers complain of a falling off in business. Fruiterers have experienced a busy period and large sales' have been transacted in bottling and preserving fruits. _ The grocery trade is normal. : Printing Trades.—Bookbinding: Fair. Printing: Regular hands fully employed.

Tanning, Currying, and Fellmongery. —Busy. Meat freezing: The local works have been kept fully staffed during the whole of the period. Coachbuilding Trades—Blacksmithing: General blacksmithing busy, chiefly with repairs work. No men idle. Coach, carriage, and tramcar building: Busy. Cycle and Motor Trades.—Trade has been a little quieter than the preceding month, and a falling off in sales has taken place.

_ Miscellaneous.—Confectionery, aad biscuit trades: Busy. . ' . ' Unskilled Workers. The report on the unskilled labour market states that normal conditions prevailed during. February, when the application from workers showed no increase as compared with the previous month. Employment generally, to those used to hard manual labour, was freely offering, and the good weather experienced enabled full time to be put in by outside workers. Applications from farmers for workers have not come in quite so freely as anticipated.. There are a few good farm hands (not milkers) awaiting engagement. The number assisted to work was 204, of whom 55 were married, and 149 single, with 153 dependants. . These comprised farm hands, carpenters, hotel workers, painters, general labourers, etc. In all, 137 men were sent to private employment, and 67 to Government works. Fifty are recorded as hailing from the North Island, 38 from the South Island, 21 from the Commonwealth, aad 89 from Great Britain, and six other places. In addition, seven wives and nine children were assisted to join their rolativcs.

Female Labour. [ Miss Breroner, who is in charge of the female work' of the Department, reports as under:— I "During the month just ended the following applications were. received from employers:—Dayworkers, 64; domestic workers, 44; housemaids, 14; pantrymaids, 1; ladyhelps, 6; cooks, 6; waitresses, 4; matron, 1; housekeepers 2; hopgrowers, 96: total, 238. Those from employees were:—Day-workers, 37 ; domestic workers, 11; ladyhelps, 1; housemaids, 5; cooks, i; waitresses, .5; pantrymaid, 1; housekeepers, 3; upholst.ress, 1: total, 68. In addition, 100 women and girls applied for work as hop-pickers in the' Nelson and Motueka districts. A largo proportion of this total had previous experience at this work, and whilst 93 applicants were actually assisted to the work, 38 of the total took up engagements with growers with whom tliey had been previously employed, and were not specially selected by the Department. Engagements made were as followDayworkers, 35; hop-pickers, 55; domestic workers, 10; ladyhelps, 1; housemaids, 5; cooks, 4; waitresses, 4; pantrymafd, 1; housekeepers, 2; upholstress, 1: total. 118.