TRADE MOVEMENTS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 55, 27 November 1937, Page 7

TRADE MOVEMENTS

Statistical Occupational . Barometer PLACEMENT SERVICE $ A return prepared by tke statistical branck of - tke Stato Placement Serviee provides an interesting record of movement in many of tke principal trades and indnstries. It is in faet an occupational barometer tkat registers most accurately tke effeet of season activity or slackness in tke trades designa'ted. Further interest is added by tke fact that the enrolment and placement of casual workers and of those enrolled as labourers "are omitted, tke return being restrieted principally to skilled trades and a number of selected occupations. Particulars are given of new enrolments, as distinct from re-enrolments of men wkose names kad previously been on tke serviee cards but kad been placed in temporary employment, and tkese figures skow tkat t^iring tke week ended November 6 there were .114 of theformor and tkac 108 men kad rc-en-rolled. Altkougk tkis total of 222 men enrolled witk tke- Placement Serviee during tke week, 59 temporary and 43 permanent positions were found for enrollees. i A feature of tkis new survey of tke unemployment pOsition is tke disclosure of constant weekly variation In many of tke principal occupations. For instance, iive bricklayers re-enrolled during tke week ended October 30, but three were engaged, wkile in tke following week 12 re-enrolled. and work was avaiable for only one man; apparently tkis indicates a temporary lull in a branck of tke building trade. Tke figures relating to carpenters indicate increased activity in tkis section of tke industry -in tkat only six men enrolled during tke last week in October, whereas 34 were placed, wkile for tke following Week there were 14 enrolments and 20 placements. Tkis skows tkat some warks were completed and new buildings commeneed. Significant figures in tke boot-making industry wero tkose of five factory Workers wko re-enrolled in the week to October 30 and were not placed, and of 10 re-enrolments a week later wko also were not re-engaged. Five clerks enrolled for tke first time as at October 30, and tkree positions were filled. During the following week, work was found for nine clerks, wkile tkere were 10 enrolments, seven being new men. Tke commencing of tke end-of-year trade is kaving its effeet in tkose establiskments that cater to tke food requirements of tke public, and tke figures skow tkat tkere were five new enrolments and six re-enrolments of csoks in tke last week in October, wkile six positions- were filled. Four re-enrolled in tke next week and work was found ' for two. Only two enrolments o S lorry and taxi drivers were rccorded for tke week ended October 30, and tkere were no placements; but in' the week to November 6 tkere were 14 enrolments and two placements. Repairs to farming implements, dairy laetory machinery, shearing machinery and otker plant for seasonal activities are reflected in the demand for fitters, botk engineer's and general. Two new enrolments were Tecorded during the week to Octdber 30, and only one placement was made; but in tke following week tkere were six enrolments and 19 placements. Tke state of tke plpmbing trade is skown by tke fact tkat in the last week of October tkere was one new enrolment and one placement, and tkat in tke next week an nnlicensed plumber re-enrolled and anotker was giyeu work. Thrde painters (brusk hands) xeenrolled during tke first weekly period and four were placed; and in the second period 12 (brusk and Duco) enrolled, but work was found for only two brusk kands. Bad weather and a slackened demand for fisk accounted for 12 new enrolments of fishermen at a southern port at tke end of last month, and a week later tkree others were listed. Two new enrolments and five reenrolments of storemen' were counterbalanced in tke final week of October by seven placements, and tkree enrolments of salesmen to> October 30 wero followed by eigkt being placed in jobs. Six new men wkose previous oeeupation was ,]fchat of kotel porter were enrolled, wkile during tke same week tkree positions were filled in tkat oeeupation. Four cigarette makers were placed in tke week euded November 6, and two otkers re-enrolled. Evidently, all cigarette smokers do not "roll tkeir own." One plasterer (solid) re-enrolled and one was placed, and thougk tkere were seven saddlors available there wero no requests for tkeir servics. Tke list of shop assistants was increased by tke names of nine new men -and tkree wko re-enrolled, wkile only two positions of a permanent nature, and two temporarv, 5 were filled. Two motor-assemblers re-enrolled, (and tkree were engaged on a permanent jbasis. Tkree motor meckknics en|rolled but only one was plaped. Two fellmqngers, two slaugktermen, one tailor and presser, a drover, two gardeners, a floek mill-worker, a foundy worker, and a skeaerr wee among those for whom wprk was found.