LABOUR MARKET

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8357, 18 February 1913, Page 3

LABOUR MARKET

The current issue of the “Labour Journal,” reporting on the stateof tho labour market in Wellington, says: “There has .been a falling-off in trade since last month, and with retailers this is not unusual in January. Many houses, however, report very good business. Carpentry is fairly good, but several men are temporarily idle waiting for other work to commence. Plumbing, however, is still brisk,' and no men are reported out of work. Painting is quiet, whilst the dispute between the slaughtermen and the freezing companies has brought operations to a standstill. Hundreds of men are idle who, under ordinary circumstances, would be earning good wages. “Bricklaying very fair; no unemployed tradesmen reported, Carpentry and .joinery fairly good-. Painting very quiet. Plastering fair, but one or two men are idle. Plumbing and gasfitting is still brisk, and no tradesmen are unemployed. Stonomasonry— V ery little work is being done at present in connection with building operations. Cabinetmaking and upholstering good. Coopering fair. Sash and door_ fac-tories-—trade very good. Sawmilling good. ‘ ‘Engineering trades:—Boilermaking and brass and copper-smithing quiet. Electrical engineering fair. Rangemaking, fitting and turning, and iron and brass moulding quiet, . Leather trades—Bootmaking (factories) fairly busy. Saddlery and harnessmaking fair. “Clothing trades—Dressmaking and millinery good; a fair amount of overtime was worked during the month. Shirtmaking good. Tailoring (factories) —Working at full pressure without overtime; prospects are very good. Tailoring (order) good: some tailors report an extremely good month. Retail trades—Clothing very fair. Boots fairly good. Drapery—Fair business, but this month is usually quiet. Groceries fair, but as good as other years; this month is usually regarded as quiet. Printing trades quiet. “Meat-freezing, etc.—Tanning, currying, fellmongering, slaughtering, freezing, and preserving have been very busy, but, a largo number of men is idle now on account of the works being closed down through dispute between workers and employers. Coachbuilding trades—Blaoksmithing quiet. Coach, carriage, and tram-car building fairly good. UNSKILLED LABOUR. “During the month employment has been fairly good both in the city and country districts. There is still a demand for dairy and agricultural farm workers, and scutchers, paddockers, and general flaxmill hands. Men used to fencing and firewood-cutting have also been inquired for at good wages, whilst pick-and-shovel men have been fairly well employed on account of the fine weather-conditions prevailing. A considerable number or men loft the city during the month to seek harvesting work in Canterbury and Otago. Mostly all the new arrivals from overseas who called at the department for work were placed. A totar of 130 men were assisted, 62 being married and 78 single, with 163 dependants. Ninetythree were sent to private employers and 37 to Government works, their respective occupations being those of bricklayers, carpenters, engineers, miners, and labourers.”