THE LABOUR MARKET.

Otago Witness, Issue 2894, 25 August 1909, Page 16

THE LABOUR MARKET.

The Journal of the Department of Labour for August contains the following report on ! the condition of the labour market in Dunedin: — At the beginning of the month labour conditions in this district wesre _o depressed ct_ to have a marked effect on businesgenerally, and reports from local trades were anything but batisfactory. As the month advanced, however, ao improvement has been noticeable. This betterment i_ undoubtedly due <o the active measures taken to secure work for the abnormal numiber of men out of employment in the early part of the month. During the last five weeks over 430 men have been assisted to work through the department. A noticeable sequence of the slackness of employment amongst workers is that, whilst drapers and others whose trade is with the wealthier class report that trade ha« been good, those who rely upon the cash trade of the working people state emphatically that business has been very 'dull indeed. Retail trade in all branchesis reported as being very dull,.* and the shopkeepers state there has been a considerable falling off in cash business, also that gi 'at difficulty has bean experienced in getting accounts in. Provision dealers particularly complain that credit has been given to a number of customers who had in the past invariably paid cash for goods. Engineering, metal-working, and building trades are etill very quiet. A number of ■workers in the two first-mentioned industriei have taken on navvying work; but other artieans appear to be able to hold on till their own work offers. Meat-freezing. — Slaughtermen are being put off as the end of the season approaches, banning and fellmongery ate quiet, and there is no opening- for hands. Agricultural. — A number of farm hands Aiave been 6ent to work; but there will be no great demand for wcrrlosrs for some weeks yet. Coalmining. — There lias been no change from l?.st month's report, and there have been no requests for miners. * 'Unskilled Labour.— Although so maniy (workers have recently been given work on 'jobs specially started to meet the " unemployed " difficulty, there are still a large mumber of "names on the department's register. The local bodies appear to have xeached their limit in starting fresh works. .WOMEN'S EMPLOYMENT BUREAU. 'Applications from 108 employers, repreBenting 113 vacancies, were received <___•- •ing the month, and 88 from assistants applying for work. Fifty-two' were placed in employment, comprising 13 married women tana 39 single. Owing to the slackness of trade a nam3fcer of seamstresses called at the office in ijuest of employment. It is difficult to suit jthis class of worker, as they invariably inquire for a light situation — viz., lwiy-hii.^) <ov companion, — and at present tiore is kittle or no demand for such workers. They 'are not experienced enough to fill positions as generals-. Inquiries were made on betuilf of these girls, and it was found that employers were not anxious to engage ithooi, believing that it would be only a arrangement, and that as soon

! as trade revived the girls would return to their original employment. I —. '■■■ —