TRADE AND LABOR.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 December 1915, Page 3

TRADE AND LABOR.

'NOVEMBER IN NEW PLYMOUTH. SATISFACTORY CONDITIONS. The labor report for the period ending November 30, is as follows:—Trade and labor conditions have been quite satisfactory during last month. Retail traders express satisfaction with the amount of business done, which is quite equal to that of the same month last year. Manufacturers do not complain at the state of trade, but it is feared that a difficulty may be found presently in securing sufficient skilled workmen, and business may suffer in consequence. The building trade is still fairly busy in all its branches, and there are some large buildings to he erected, so that the prospect is good for some time to come. The iron trade shows a slight falling off, but that is said to be of a temporary character. Saddle and harness making is suffering in consequence of the advent of the motor. Cycle repair shops are very quiet as a result of so many young fellows going to the front. The outlook from the agricultural and dairyman's point of view is reported to he very satisfactory. The Borough Council is pushing forward with a large amount of street formation work, and all local unskilled labor is employed. Building trades.—Bricklaying: Fair. Carpentry and joinery: Busy. Tainting: Busy. Plastering: Quiet. Plumbing and gasfitting: Busy. Stonemasonry: Quiet. Wood-working trades. —Boxmaking: Busy. Cabinetmaking and upholstering: Satisfactory. Coopering: Busy. Sash and door factories: Busy: all hands fully employed. Sawmilling and wood-turning, etc.: Busy.

Engineering trades. Boilermaking: Fair. Electrical engineering: Busy. Fitting and turning: Fair: but there has beep a slight falling-nil since last month. Iron and brass moulding: Fair. ' Leather trades.—Bootmaking (factories!.—Busy; all hands*are fully employed, and overtime is being worked; there are openings for Doth henchmen and finishers . Repair shops: Busy. Saddlery and harness making: Fair; all tradesmen are employed. Clothing trades.—Dressmaking and millinery: Very busy. Shirtmaking: Busy; overtime being worked, and there arc openings for one or two good machinists. Order: Busy; all journeymen are employed and overtime is being worked. Retail trades.—Clothing, hoots, and drapery: Satisfactory, but slackened off towards the end of the month. Groceries: Steady business is being done. Printing trades. —Bookbinding and printing: Busy; overtime lias been worked during, the month. Meat-freezing, etc.—Tanning, currying, and fellmongery: Busy. Slaughtering, freezing, and preserving. The season is now almost in full swing, and a busy time is expected. Coachbuilding trades. —Blacksmithing: Busy. Coach and carriage building: Fair. Cycle and motor trades. —Fair, hut there is a gradual falling off in repair work.

Agricultural operations. Farming, dairying, etc: All dairy factories are now busy, and there is »till a demand for milkers and other competent farm hands.

Miscellaneous.—Aerated water manufacturing: Busy. Bakers and pastrycooks: Busy. Briekmaking: Fair. Brewing: Busy. Cement pipe making: Satisfactory. Petroleum oil boring and refining: Quiet. Unskilled labor.—The number of applicants for employment during the month has been the lowest for a very long time, only -seven unskilled workers having called at this office, and the majority of these did not call the second time. No difficulty has been experienced in placing all suitable men.