DEPARTMENT OF LABOUR.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3143, 22 March 1909, Page 3

DEPARTMENT OF LABOUR.

The following concerning Masierton, Featherston, Grey town and Tenui is taken from the journal of the Department of Labour for March: — TENUI. Building trades.—Carpentry and joinery: All local carpenters and several from outside districts have been fairly busy during the month at repairing and erecting dwellinghouses and outside buildings. Retail trades fair. Blacksmith: Good trade doing. Unskilled labour: All Real men have been fairly employed during the month at scrub-cutting, fencing, har vesting, road-forming, and at roadmetalling. Several swaggers passed through here during the month, but they were unable to get employment, ss all works in the district are fullhanded, and there is no demand at present for outside labour; but a tender is now called for by the Castlepoint County Council for nearly three miles of road-formation, which, no doubt, if let, will give employment to several good men about the middle of next month. MASTERTON. There has been practically very little improvement during the month in the condition of trade and business generally. Business people and tradesmen report as to the general slackness throughout. Farming operations in the way of harvesting, etc., are almost completed, consequently men who were thus emploj - ed are being discharged. It is not anticipated there will be much demand for outside general labour in this disrtict fur some time. Building trades—Bricklaying: Not much building being done, and no demand for tradesmen. Carpentry and joinery very quiet; several tradesmen reported unemployed. Paintinng fair, but no demand for extra hands. Plastering very quiet. Plumbing and gasfitting: Trade and business reported slack. Stonemasonry slack. Woodworking trades: Boxmaking fair. Cabinetmaking a.id upholstering very quiet; some firms working only half-time. Sash and door factor- j ies: Very little doing; no demand for tradesmen. Sawmilling very slack; some of the sawmills have closed doivn; no demand. Woodturning, et?., fair. Engineering trads: Brass and copper-smithing quiet. Fitting and turning slack; no demand for tradssmen.

Leather trades: Bootmaking (repair shops) very fair. Saddlery and harnessmaking up to the general standard, and fair amount of work offering. Clothing trades—Dressmaking and millinery: Trade continues fairly good. Tailoring (order): Trade reported good, but no extra hands in demand. Retail trades: Very fair business reported. Printing trades: Printing—Trade very fair ;but no demand tor additional hands. Meat-freezing, etc.: "1 arming, currying, and fellmongering, . and slaughtering, feezing, and preserving fairly steady. Coachbui'.ding trades —BJacksmithing: An improvement is noticeable |in this trade. Coach and carriage building: A considerable amount of work is being done, and to keep i hards employed stock is being built up. .. Cycle and motor trades: Very fair trade reported tnrouhgout in both sales and repairs. Agricultural operations—Farming, dairying, etc.: Harvesting is now almost complete, and a general slackness as regards farm-work is reported. Unskilled labour: During the period about twenty men (including three new arrivals) have called at this office in search of employment. A number of these have been placed on Government and private work.

GREYTOWN. Building trades slack. Leather trades: Bootmaking (repair shops) fairly busy. Saddlery and harnessrnaking fairly busy. Clothing trades: Dressmaking and millinery fairly busy. Tailoring (order) fairly busy. Retail trades fairly good. Printing good. Blacksmithing good. Cycle and motor trades fairly busy. Agricultural operations—Farming, dairying, etc.: Good crops are reported everywhere throughout the sub-district. The harvesting season is now nearly finished, and farmers generally have had a trood season. Dairy farmers are experiencing a prosperous time owing to the fine season. Unskilled labour: Local labour is well employed. There is little room for outsiders. ,' FEATHERSTON. During the past month the farmers have been very busy harvesting, and the crops have turned out very well. A large quantity of fat sheep have been railed to Wellington, and also large shipments of cheese and butter have been sent away. The month has been an exceedingly good one. Building trades: Bricklaying fair. Carpentry and joinery: All hands have "ieen kept in full employment. Painting: Local hands working full time. ' Leather trades—Bootmaking: Repair shops are kept busy. Retail trades good. Blacksmithing: All hands fully employed. Cycle and motor trades busy; sales slow, t^'if f?££ '«?^f^ Agricultural operations: Farming' dairying, etc., kept busy during the month. The majority of bhe crops [ are now being threshed, and are ' turning out well. The milk-supply is good for this time of the year. Miscellaneous: The cheese-factory is kept busy, and a large quantity of cheese is being turned out; the butter-factory is also working full time. Unskilled labour: All local unskilled labour has been employed during the month at harvesting, etc.