CHRISTMAS TRADE

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2663, 7 January 1916, Page 2

CHRISTMAS TRADE

SHOPKEEPERS REPORT RECORD BUSINESS THE LABOUR MARKET The following is the report for December of the Department of Labour, Wellington branch:— It is pleasing to satisfactory conditions of trade and labour during the month. All skilled trades were very busy, and . few, if any, skilled operatives were out of employment. The earnings of a largo number of workers have been greatly supplemented through the overtime necessitated by the rush of work; particularly does this apply to the textile trades. These satisfactory conditions were reflected in the large volume of business transacted during the two or three weeks prior to Christmas. Many shopkeepers report a record business, and on all sides satisfaction is expressed with the amount of business done. The large liuniber of troops present in the city during the holidays caused something of a mild panic to, restaurant and boardinghousekeepers, and these, together with fancy goods' dealers and tobacconists, have had an exceptionally busy time. It is certain that the war had no depressing effects so far as the conditions of t-rado and labour in Wellington were concerned during Christmas, 1915. Building Trades.—Bricklaying busy. Carpentry and joinery, busy; a demand exists for competent carpenters ' andjoiners. Painting very busy, no men idle. Plastering—There is a dearth of skilled men in this trade, and high rates of wages have been offered for men but without success. Plumbing and gasfitting busy. Woodworking Trades. — Boxmaking very busy. Cabinotmaking and upholstering busy; there is still a demand for tradesmen. Coopering very busy; a demand exists for tallow casks, and consequently there is plenty of work on hand. Engineering Trades. —Busy in all branches. Fitters and men used to girder construction work are wanted. Leather Trades.—Bootmaking busy ; all factories are working full time, and there is .plenty of work 011 hand. Saddlery and harness-making busy. Clothing Trades.—Dressmaking and millinery very busy; the orders received for Christmas were quite up to the standard of former years. Shirtmakiug busy. Tailoring (factories) Very busy,a cousidei - able_ amount of overtime has been worked in almost all factories. Most factories closed down between the Christmas and New Year holidays, as is customary, but it was with reluctance this year, owing to tho Meat amount of work on hand. Tailoring (order). As was anticipated, an improvement took place during the month, and some shops were uiiable to cope with the rush of orders. Retail Trades—Boots: Good business done. Drapery: The turnover was quite lip to tho standard compared with the same period of former years, and satisfaction is expressed both with the sales transacted and the amount of ready cash spent. Groceries: Christmas trade good and considered satisfactory. . Meat-freezing Trades.—Tanning, currying and. fcllniongery.. busy. Slaughtering, freezing, and preserving, busy. Stock is now coming to hand m largo quantities, and tho work is now proceeding at high pressure. Coachbuilding Trades. —Blacksmithing fairly busy.' Coach and carriage building, fair. ' Cycle and Motor Trades. —Busy both in sales and repairs. Trade has been good throughout the month. Miscellaneous.—Mineral water 'manufacturing, very busy. Confectionery and biscuit-making, busy. Insufficient fc-1 mate workers to cope with the work offering. Unskilled Labour.—The number of callers decreased in comparison with the previous month. Boilermakers, carpenters, painters, plumbers, farmhands. hotel workers and general labourers .were placed. These comprised 79 married and .121 single men-with 224 dependents. Sixty-two were sent to private employment and 13S to Government works. Fifty-tluee c'ame.from the North Island, 29 from the South Island, 20 from the Commonwealth, 88 from Great Britain, and 10 from other countries. In addition to the above five wives and six children were assisted to join their relatives. Women's Employment Bureau.—The following is a summary of the applications received and the engagements made:— Applications Applica- Enfrom tions gageem- from ments Occupations. ploye'rs. workers, made. /Domestic workers 50 10 10 Day workers 70 46 39 Ladyhelps 3 — — Housemaids 14 2 2 Nurses 1 — — Cooks ,9 2 2 Pantrymaids 4 2 2 Waitresses 5 4 3 Kitchenmaids 4 11 Factory bands 2 2 2 Married couples ... 5 1 1 Housekeepers 4 11 Seamstresses _ 1 1 1 Fruit cfc hop-pickers — 34 / 8 - 172 106 72 They all caino from the North Island ; 23 wore married and the rest single or widows with 62 dependents. Thirty-one applicants had been previously assisted. Several parties of fruitpickers have been selected, and arrangements made for them to proceed to Nelson immediately after the holidays.. In many cases these parties intend to remain after- the close of the - fruitpicking season for tho hop-picking.

It may be some small satisfaction to tlio mother, sisters, and wives of our new soldiers to know that never again will their sons, hrothers, and husbands either lose their tempers when requested to carry a small parcel home or perform the service with such a bad grace that they never will be asked to do it again. At least thej; won't until they have forgotten experiences like the one of which is written_ about here. "We have had the brigadier inspecting us iu full marching order," his letter begins. "Talk about a camel having a hump; it's not half as big as we've got. I could do with a 'handcart to carry my little lot in. In our packs we have a greatcoat, towel, shirt, pants, socks, cap-comforter, slippers, and billy-can; in our hold-all there are knife, fork, spoon, raxor, sii&v-ing-brash, toothbrush, and 'housewife,' and if wo are not wearing our jerseys we have to find "a coriier for them. Then on our belts we have n water-bottle, haversack, bayonet, trenching tool, ammunition pouches, and field-glasses, whilst our pockets are crammed full with a gas helmet, iodino tube, field dressing, whistle, map, message-book, rule-book, pay-book, small book, and a few more hundred things [there is probably a "long bow" among these]. Next we tie round our waist a cord to hold lis together, and an immense clasp-knife to use if we get into a knot. After all these things are on we have to find room for an oilcan, tin of dubbin, piece of soap, and a blanket and oil-sheet, to say nothing of a rifle. And when you have them all on you wonder whether you have forgotten anything." There seems nothing missing from this list, anyway. Ladies!!!— The store for Silk Scarves In nil colours and qualities is l'rico's. 50-51-31! Willis Street—Advt. , The Witi para, County Council has inslructcd .Mr. IT. i'. Toogooil, C.E., (o call tenders tor Hie construction of a i-oikl acvusa Uiu Jiuvuuui Kivoi', iieur Dowettt