THE LABOUR MARKET.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9702, 27 January 1910, Page 3

THE LABOUR MARKET.

The [following concerning Mastsrton, Carterton and Featherston is taken from the Labour Journal for January— Masterton. —During the psriod just ended business and trade generally within the Borough boundaries have not approached the standard of expectations. In the country, however, farmers and others have been busily engaged in completing shearing, haymakingi and erass-seeding operations, and a number have now fuii., commenced harvesting. All these industries have engaged a considerable number of workers, and with their completion other channels of employment will be required to deal witn the overflow. Dain ing still continues in full swing, the supply of milk throughout the district being about at its height for the season. There still remains a demand for good milkers and youths; some dairy farmers, working short handed, beinjj unable to obtain suitable workers. Tailors and dressmakers have been busily engaged preparing for the holiday rush. Buildins trades remain rather quiet, but with the commencement of the proposed freezing works at Waingawa, in the Wairarapa district, it is expected that these trades will receive an impetus throughout.

Building Trades. Bricklaying rather alack; several brick buildings have been completed; none are being commenced at present. Carpentry and joinery fair; several cottages are in course of erection, employing a few tradesmen, but several men are still unemployed. Painting —A considerable amount of renovating work-is being carried out, and most tradesmen are employed. Plastering. —A number of tradesmen are at present fully engaged completing the plastering of aeveral buildings. Plumbing and gasfitting. —All hands fully employed; a fair amount of work is offering Stonemasonrv. — There are a few men fully employed. Woodworking trades.—Boxmaking fairly busy. Cabinetmaking and upholstering—No improvement has been shown; this trades continues very slack. Coopering fair; very little fluctuation in this trade. Sash and door factories —Regular hands kept fairly steadily employed. Sawmilling very quiet. Woodturning, etc. —There are a ff-.w tradesmen steadily employed. Engineering trades:—Agricultural implement making continues fairly brisk, and .a number of hands are regularly employed. Fittirig and turning—Tradejs improving. Leather trades:—Bootmaking (factories) fair. Bootmaking (repair shops) fairly busy. Saddlery and harnessmaking—Fairly good busi-

ness is reported. Clothing {[trades: .Dressmaniiig and millinery busy ; all hands are fully engaged, and a considerable amount of overtime is being worked. Tailoring (factories and order) fairly busy; all hands are fully employed,

and a fair amount of overtime is being worked.

Retail trades: —Clothing, boots, drapery, and groceries—A fairly busy period is reported' but the holiday trade was scarcely up to expectation?. Printing Trades—Printing not very busy; however, extra hands have been required on jobbing work. Meat freezing, etc., trades veiy quiet. Coachbuilding trades: Blacksmithing fairly busy; rail in the trade fully employed. Coach and carriage building still continues busy throughout. Cycle and motor trades: —All banc's fully employed. Agricultural operations.—Farming, dairying, etc., very busy; a large number of hands are fully engaged. Ihis is about the busiest season of the year. Unskilled labour—Very few applicants for work have called during ihe period. Ten men were assisted to private employment. CARTERTON. Trade generally is very steady, and the men are looking iorwa.u to a busy time until after Christmas. Building trades.—Carpentry and joinery and painting fair. Plumbing and gasfitting busy Woodworking trades.—Buxmaking busy. Cabinetmaking and upholstering fair. Coopering fair. Sash and door factories fair. Sawmilling busy. Wood turning,, etc., fair. Engineering trades.—Agricultural implement main busy. Leather trades.--liootmaking (repair shops) and saddlery and harnessmaking busy. Clothing trades. —Dressmaking and millinery busy. Tailoring (order) very busy. Retail trades fairly good. Printing fair."Coachbuilding trades: Blacksmithing busy. Coach and carriage building fair. Cycle and motor trades busy. Argicultural operations. Farming.

J dairying, etc.—The',' dairyin? indus- | try has somewhat slackened during the past week, owing to fie dry weather. Still, he farmers have nothing to complain of, as they have had an exceptionally good season up to the present. Unskilled labour. —All local hands are fully employed, mostly at harvesting and assisting in woolsheds. FEATHERSTON. The past month has been a very busy one in every branch of labour, and retail JJbusinesses have dore a good Christmas trade. Large consignments of wool and cheese are leaving here by railway daily, also large special and ordinary trains of sheep. JJ Building trades: —Carpentry ana joinery busy* a number of new houses are in course of erection. Painting busy, all local hands working full time. Plumbing has been very busy during; the month. Leather Trades:—Bootmaking (re-j psfir shops) and saddlery and harnes®making very busy. Clothing Trades: Dressmaking and millinery very busy; firms are unable to complete orders. Tailoring (order)— Trade good. Retail trades good. I Coachbuilding trades: —Blacksmithing yery busy; all hands fully employed. Cycle and motor trades busy. Agricultural operations.—Farming, dairying, etc.—General farmwork is now in full swing. Miscellaneous: The cheese factory is very busy, and has had a record month. Butter factory also very busy. Unskilled labour: No local unskilled labour unemployed. . The past monch has been exceptionally good.