LABOUR DEPARTMENT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3187, 12 May 1909, Page 6

LABOUR DEPARTMENT.

MONTHLY REPORT. The "Labour Journal," published yesterday, in its survey of the employment market shows that in Auck land, Wellington Dunedin, and Christchurch, the building, engineering and woodworking trades range from slack to quiet. The Public Works Department employed on co-operative works 304 artizans and 4,407 labourers, and 5,039 labourers were employed by the Roads Department, 337 being in the Wellington district. The people assisted to get work during the month of April numbered 203 married single men, with 700 dependents; and in the women's department, 53 married and 234 single women, together having 2y dependents, were also assisted to get work. Of the 994 assisted, 160 were from Great Britain, and 19 from Australia. The balance were New Zealanders. The reports of country towns adjacent to Wellington show that the building trades at Grey town are quiet, nut. clothing, boot and printing trades are fairly good, and blacksmithing busy. Unskilled work is scarce, and "no room for outsiders." At Featherston all carpenters and joiners are reported fully employed. "There are no local unemployed," and "the past month has been a good one, as far as business is concerned. Masterton. reports "very little building going on." Retail trade "decided improvement on last month"; sash and door trade, building, and printing trades ful'v met, so far as employment is concerned; agricultural operations quietening down, being end of season, unskilled labour difficult to place. Palmerston North reports business quieter than usual, and the outlook not too encouraging. Several shops have been burnt down, so that there is a prospect of about half a dozen, and one hotel, being rebuilt.