THE LOCAL LABOUR MARKET.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9671, 20 December 1909, Page 5

THE LOCAL LABOUR MARKET.

WORK REPORTED TO BE PLENTIFUL. DEMANDS EXCEEDS SUPPLY. SATISFACTORY REPORTS FROM LABOUR AGENTS. THE WARY MODERN MAID. It is satisfactory to have to report that the condition of the labour market in the Masterton district at the present time is very encouraging. With the chronic complaint of tie past year of "tight money" it will re gratifying to the town tradespeople at least to learn that at present the labDurers and artisan alike are at present busily occupiel, as this must presage an improved state of busi • ness. An Age reporter visited several Masterton labour agents on Saturday, and learnt of a marked improvement in the agricultural labour market, and a generally increased de • and for all classes of labour. "■ "We are having a difficulty in fii cling hands for the harvest field," said one well-known agent. "The harvest is somewhat earlier this season, and has followed very closely o.i shearing I —in fact these occupations will be carried on simultaneously in se/eral localities for almost the next j month." i Another agent reported similarly I favourably. "Then," said this gentle- ; man, we have again Jthe perennial dearth of the domestic. Try as we may, with supposed hard times and all, we cannot fill the positions available for general servants. TJie persistency with which female labuur has steered clear of the duties of household management during the ' past few years has meant very i much better wages and conditions I generally for the domestic, yet in spite ol this fact girls prefer any other occuj tion than housework. The modern young woman has pene- . trated the subtle disguise 'lady help,' 'companion,' 'maid,' etc., and they are all regarded with the same disdain." "Are there no consequences worthy of note in connection with the scarcity of domestic labour?" was asked. 1 "Well, it means very considerable

inconvenience to persons in tho country with lame household establishments. In such places a good servant is regarded as somewhat of a treasure, and sie is treated in a way thai a similar class of servant, say, ten years ago would regard as ultra-praiseworthy. The daughters of trie house have now to make good to a greater extent the loss of the hired latojr, but where there are nD daughters, of course it is a trying matter to maintain the management ct the household in a smooth-running manner." From domebtic a'ojr the conversation tun ed to artisans. "Thesr," said the same authority, 'Vem to be pretty busily occupied. The district has, of course, lost a gr t at number of skilled men during the depression, while many have drifted into the rankc of unskilled labour, where they still remain, often earning good money. We do not treat largely with skilled men, but there is apparently i- sat sfactory denund." Several em loyers of labour in the town were also spoken to, and they seemed to entertain a hopeful view of the immediate prospects of the town from the standpoint of labour. There is a ceneral impression that a little more life is beginning to be shown in the matt r of advancing j the greater interns s of the town | and district, ar.d javjbably the coining year will not Jnve rjn much of its course before thtre will he. a marked revival in local busines-: in all respects.