DEPARTMENT OF LABOUR.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9059, 19 February 1908, Page 3

DEPARTMENT OF LABOUR.

MONTHLY REPORT.

The Journal of the Department of Labour contains the following concerning Masterton, Tenui, and Greytown : Masterton.—During the month very extensive bush fires have been raging about Masterton, and have greatly interfered with sawmilling and dairying operations; several sawmills and tramlines have been destroyed, and a large number of men are consequently thrown out of work. The majority of drapers- are holding summer sale 3, and all report excellent business. Building operations are going on apace; two large buildings in Queen Street are nearing completion, of which possession will be taken next month. Tenders are also expected to be called for the new technical school.

Building trades: Carpenters, bricklayers, painters, and plumbers are fully employed. Saddlery and harness making: Fair amount of orders and repair work still in hand. Furniture trade: Good steady business reported during the month, with orders still coming in. Sash and door factory continues brisk; all hands fully employed. Coachbuiiding and painting: Extremely good. General blacksmithing: Good steady business. Engineering: Fair. Moulding shows an improvement since last month. Tailoring: All hands making full time. Dressmaking and Millinery: Good, with orders still on hand. Retail trades: Reports generally are uf a very satisfactory nature.' Unskilled workers: During the month three men, with ten dependants, and ten single men, have been placed in Government and private employment. Greytown.—Building and engineering trades: Fairly busy. Retail trade: Good business reported. Unskilled labour: Local labour fully employed,but sufficient in subdistrict for demand. No idle men travelling on the roads, Tenui.—Building trades: There are no buildings in course of erection, but local carpenters have been fairly employed the month repairing and putting additions to dwellinghouses. Unskilled labour: All local J men have been fully employed during the month at scrub-cutting, harvesting, fencing, and at road works. Several swaggers were seen on the road during the month, but all of them got employment in this district at scrub-cutting and at road work. There is no demand for outside labour at the present time, on account of the season bsing too dry.