TRADE AND LABOR.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 April 1916, Page 3

TRADE AND LABOR.

POSITION IN NEW PLYMOUTH. BUILDING TRADE BRISK The labor report for New 'Plymouth for the period ending.March 29 says:— The general conditions of trade and labor have been well maintained during the month. Although there lias been a slight falling off in one or two retail trades, this is fully accounted for by tiie fact that the month of March is between seasons, and also that it is bank balance, and business people express satisfaction at the volume lof trade done. The building trade is busy in all branches, and one shilling a' day over I award rates is being offered for carpenters. There is also a shortage of labor in all brandies of boot-manufacturing and also shirt-making. Engineering trades are only normal, but ire likely to improve, and no hands ire on: of work. The freezing works are still very busy in all branches. Dairying and agriculture has been very satisfactory; nice rams have fallen during the month, which will prolong the dairying season somewhat and enable farmers to proceed witlv autumn work, besides which a good supply of winter feed is now assured. During the month only three unskilled laborers have called, and only' one employer applied for a worker. All local unskilled labor, however, is fulljr employed. Building Trades. —Bricklaying: Fair; no men out of employment. Carpentry and .Toinerv: Busy. All tradesmen working full time. A few hands could be placed. Painting: Quiet; some firms have reduced hands. Plastering: Very quiet. Plnmbling and Gaslitting: Busy; ■but shows a slight falling-off since last month. Stonemasonry: Quiet. Wood-working Trades.—Boxmaking: Fair. Cabinetmaking and Upholstering: Normal; all tradesmen fully employed. Coopering: Bus}'. Sash and Door Factories, Sawmilling- and Wood-turning: Satisfactory; full time is being worked and no tradesmen are out of employment.

Engineering Trades.—Boilermaking: Fair. Electrical Engineering: Satisfactory. Fitting and Turning: Fair. Iron and Brass Moulding: Quiet. Leather Trades.—Bootmaking: Factories busy; overtime being worked; workers can be placed in all departments. Repair shops busy. Saddlery and Harness Making: Fair.

Clothing Trades: Dressmaking and Millinery: Fair. Shirtmaking: Busy; Two or three machinists could be placed. Tailoring (order): Has improved since last month, and is now busy. Retail Trades.—Clothing: Satisfactory, quite up to the same period last year. Boots: Fair. Drapery: Satisfactory, but shows a slight falling off since last month. Groceries: Normal.

Printing Trades.—Bookbinding: Satisfactory. Printing: Busy; overtime is being worked and all tradesmen are emploved. Meat-freezing, etc.—Tanning, Currying, and Fellmongery: Busy. Slaughtering. Freezing, and Preserving: Very busy in all branches.

Coachbiiilding Trades —Blacksmithing: Busy. Coach, Carriage, and Tramcar Building: Slight improvement; no hands out of work. Cycle and Motor Trades. —Busy. The weather having broken lias a fleeted the state of the roads, consequently there is an increase in repair work. Agricultural Operations. Farming, Dairying, etc.: Dairying is now slackening off, but in consequence of welcome rains throughout the month feed has improved, and the season will be prolonged, and winter feed is now assured. There is now no demand for milkers or general farm hands. At all stock sales fair prices have been obtained. Miscellaneous. —Aerated water manufacturing: Fair. Brewing: Busy. Bakers and pastrycooks: Busy.' Brickmaking: Busy. Cement pipe making: Fair. Petroleum oil borint and refining: Quiet. Tinsmithing: Fairly good. Watchmakers and jewellers: Satisfactory.

Unskilled Labor.—There has been practically 110 applications for work during the month, and no inquiries from employers for unskilled labor. All local labor is well employed.