LOCAL LABOUR CONDITIONS.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 22 February 1911, Page 2

LOCAL LABOUR CONDITIONS.

THE LABOUR JOURNAL REPORT. Labour conditions in the Horowhenua and Manawatn counties are thus referred to in the February number of the Government Labour Journal :— PALMERSTON NORTH. Business has been very satisfactory during the last month, although during the early part of the period trade was a little slack, on account of the holidays. As the weather has been exceptionally fine, tout-side workers have had good opportunities considerng the season. Prospects for the future are bright, especially in the building trades.

Building trades: Carpentry and joinery—Trade is excellent. Painting—Trade is now beginning to get a little slack. Plumbing and gasfitting fair. Stoneinasonry not very brisk.

Woodworking trades: Boxmaking fair. Cabintmaking and upholstering—Business is very fair just now, and the prospects for tihe future aro very good. Coopering fair; beginning to get a little quiet. Sash and door factories—Just enough to keep the men in steady employment. Sawmilling— I Trade very good.

Engineering trades: Agricultural implement making, boiler-making, brass and .chopper smithing, electrical engineering, fitting and turning, and iron and brass moulding fair; just enough work to keep all hands employed.

Leather trades: Boot-making (factories) quiet. Boot-making (repair shops—Trade is not as good as it was this time last yoar. Saddlery and harnessmaking—Trade is beginning to improve a little.

Clothrng trades: Dressmaking and, millinery—Most of the dressmakers arc taking holidays at present-, as there is not a great deal of work to he done. Tailoring (order) busy. Retail trades: Clothing, boots, drapery and groceries—Retailers report tliat business is much the same as compared with this time last year.

Printing trades: Bookbinding and printing fairly quiet just now after Christmas, but there are signs of improvement.

Coach-building trades: Blacksmithing satisfactory. Coach and carriage building very fair.

Cycle and motor trades much brighter now than before Christmas.

Agricultural operations: Dairyfarming and dairv-factory work are slackening off slightly. Farming fairly busy.

Miscellaneous : FLaxmilling has been fairly husv.

Unskilled labour: The local supply has equalled, the demand for this class of work. OTAKT. There has boon very little of special importance to note during the past month, the general tone of retail trade being slack. Shopkeepers in all branches complain of the scarcity of ready-money. There has been no overtime applied for. The building trade shows signs of activity, and all the employers state that they -have a fair amount of work in hand. _ There is -a demand for a few good, carpenters. TMiie dairy-farmers report a good month, feed being plentiful, and the prospects for the season are bright. Building trades : Bricklaying — Local hands are fully employed. Carpentry and joinery brisk; all tradesmen are fully employed, and there is a demand for a few good' carpenters. Painting—Men are working full time. Plumbing and gasfitting rather slack at present. Woodworking trades : Cabinetmaking and upholstering—Plenty, of work in hand, but money is hard to get in. Sash and door factories fairly good._ Sawmilling brisk, all hands working full time.

Leather trades: Beotmalring—Repair shops report trade very slack and money > scarce. _ Saddlery and harnessmaking—Fair business doing.

Clothing titles: Dressmaking and millinery fairly good. "Tailoring (order) —Trade rather dull.

Retail trades: Clothing—Trade very quiet. Boots very quiet. Drapery dull , compared with previous month. Groceries fair.

Printing trades: Printing—Local hands working full time.

Meat freezing, etc. : Slaughtering —Local butchers report a fair business.

Coadhbulding trades: Blaeksmithing fairly good; working full time. Coach and carriage building rather slack.

Cycle and motor trades'"fairly good

Agricultural operations: The dairy factories are all verv busy. There has been a slight falling-off in the output, no doubt owing to tihe dry weather affecting the feed during the month. Stock generally look well. A few srood crops of Oats and hay have been harvested in good condition, and tihe potato crop has also been good.

Miscellaneous: Flaxmillers report a noor price for the fibre: tho mills are at present Working full time, hut unless prices improve it is rethe' "*ill hive to close down short!v. The basket factories are still working full ■time; and report a good demnrid for baskets. Bakers jni.'l /wrdin.l manufacturers report a good. business.

TTiisHIWI lnh^ir: There is m'o demand Tor tWs elnss -of lnbonr. Theve> are no hußhTollinof "ontraefs or roadworks .iroinsr on a.t, -present.. Local hands can moro thfl'Ti fill the demaTid,