LABOR REPORT.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 October 1915, Page 3

LABOR REPORT.

NEW PLYMOUTH DISTRICT. Mr. J. F. Arnold, district agent of the Labor Department, supplies the following report for the period ending September 27: General.—The condition of trade and labor may be considered as very satisfactory. Tradespeople report that the month's business has exceeded anticipations, with the exception of those trades which supply goods that might come ululer the heading of luxuries. The building and engineering trades continue busy in all branches, as also do all manufacturing trades with the exception of order tailoring. Farmers and dairymen report conditions to be very encouraging, the lambing has been above the average, and losses small. Cows have been coming in very rapidly, and in consequence of the early spring there is a plentiful supply of good food, and the output of butter-fat is greater than in previous years at this period. In a few weeks all butter and cheese factories will be in full work. A few milkers can still be placed. The, conditions of unskilled labor must be considered satisfactory, for while there is no demand for workers there appears to be few men out of woi'k. Most of those who have called have been placed locally, and the other few on farms. Building 'frailest—Bricklaying, busy. Carpentry and joinery, busy and one or two good tradesmen could be placed. Painting, busy, all tradesmen working full time. Plumbing and gasfitting, busy. Stoneuiasonry, normal, shows a slight falling oil' since last month. Woodworking Trade 9. Boxmaking shows a slight improvement, but is still quiet. Cabinetmaking and upholstering, satisfactory. Coopering, busy. Sash and door factories and sawrailling are satisfactory. Wood-turning, etc., fair. Engineer jrades are satisfactory in all branches. Electrical engineering, normal. Leather Trades.—Bootmaking (factories and repair shops), busy. Saddlery and harness-making, normal. Clothing Trades.—Dressmaking and millinery, with the spring season trade, is improving and is now fairly busy. Shirtmaking, very busy; overtime is being worked, and there are openings for good shirt machinists. Tailoring (order) quiet. detail Trades.—Clothing, boots and drapery, trade has been satisfactory during the month Groceries, normal." Printing Trades.—Bookbinding and 1 printing, fair. Meat-freezing, etc.—Tanning, currying, and fellmongering, fair. Slaughtering, freezing, and preserving: A small amount of work is being done and preparations are being made for the coming season, Coaclibuilding Trades.—Blacksmithing, busy. Coach and carriage building, fair. Cycle and Motor Trades.—Fairly busy. Agricultural Operations.—Fanning, dairying, etc.: There has been a large amount of farm work done during the month Ploughmen and milkers are in demand.' A few of the latter could still be placed. Miscellaneous.—Aerated water manufacturing, busy. Bakers and pastrycooks have had a good month. Brickmaking, fair. Brewing, fair. Cement pipe-making, fair. Jewellery, quiet. Petroleum oil boring and refining, quiet. Unskilled Labor.—The number of men applying for work has been smaller than for some months past. At present there are few callers, and on the other hand there is little demand for unskilled labor.