Labour Conditions.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 23 June 1911, Page 4

Labour Conditions.

REPORTS FROM "THE JOURNAL." No news of commercial or labour conditions as they affect Horowhenua County appear in the latest issue of The Labour Journal. Usually there is a report from Otaki, wlbich is supposed to represent the whole of the county, including the larger and more important centre of Levin, but even this is missing this month. The nearest centre to Levin reported upon this month is Palmerston North. The report is appended:—

Trade generally has been very satisfactory during the past montih'i, and business people speak hopefully of the future pmspects. Labour has been fairly plentiful, and outside workers have had a good, ■month, as the weather has been specially suitable.

Building trades:. Bricklaying good. Carpentry am! joinery very Fair; employers are in need of tradesmen. Painting—Trade in "tfliis line has been very good, and all hands have been fully employed. Plumbing and gasfitting—Trade is keeping up to the usual standard, and is better than this time last year. Stoneniasonry slack.

Woodworking trades: Boxniaking slack. Cabinet-making and upholstering steadily improving. Coopering very quiet. Sash and door factories—Trade was good at the beginning of the month, but slackened off a. little towards the end'. Sawmilling fair. Engineering trades generally are quiet.

'. Leather trades: Root-making (factories and repair-shops)— Trade is very slow indeed. .Saddlery and harnessmaking very fair. Clothing trades:' Dressmaking and millinery very good. Tailoring (order) very busy; tailoress are wanted.

Retail trades: Clothing, boots, drapery and groceries—Just ahout the usual amount of business has been done.

Printing trades: Book-binding and printing—Trade satisfactory. Meat-freezing, etc.: Tanning, curyring, felmongering, slaughtering, freezing, and preserving fairly 'busy.

Coachbnilding trades: Blacksmithing and coach and carriage building very good. Cycle and motor trades very husy. Agricultural operations: Farming and dairying are very slack, the exceptionally dry season experienced having caused the creameries to close down earlier than usual, and. the supply all round is very small. Winter feed is expected to be a very difficult problem for many farmers to face this season. Unskilled labour: Satisfactory as far as local labour is concerned, bit lio openings are available for rupside applicants. It is nleasing to report that very few men are applying for work at present.