LABOUR CONDITIONS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1030, 20 January 1911, Page 9

LABOUR CONDITIONS.

DEPARTMENT'S REPORT. With the Labour Journal this mjonth is circulated the index for tho 'past month. The labour conditions in tho various centres'are given below:— .WELLINGTON . Although tho usual Christmas rush Commenced later this year thnn previously, shopkeepers generally report that trade eventually was very brisk. The grocery, boot, clothing, and other retailing trades are reported as having been much busier this year than last, and. a much heavier cash business was done. Money is undoubtedly more plentiful this Christmas, as is evidenced by the very heavy purchases made of toys and luxuries, In the factories much overtime has been worked—in, tho dressmaking, underclothing, tailoring, and boutmaking industries; the shortage of hands in all these trades prevented many employers filling orders on date. Overtime is still being worked to cops with tho large amount of uncompleted orders. The building trade had considerably improved in so far as small suburban residences arc concerned, and consequently carpenters, plumbers, and painters have been making good wage's. The largest city job ;n hand is the extension of. the General Post Office, and stonemasons are all- fully employed: Bricklayers and plasterers are experiencing ■ dull times. These workers are undoubtedly affected owing to the large number of buildings being erected op the steel _ and ferro-concrete principle. The City Building Superintendent reports that for the four-wceklv period ending December 13, 1!)10, fifty-three building permits were issued for tho erection and alteration of buildings, the amount, involved being ,£40,490; and, although the number of permits issued-is considerably less than that' of previous months, the amount is more than double. The building trade is improving, and the prospects. for the immediate future in all trades are most promising. Wool still continues to maintain a fair price, though not so high, as during the last few years; and the meat-freezing and dairying industries aro both in n good healthy condition. On the whole it would appear siUV to t prophesy a continuance of tho' better times 1 now being experienced. Building trades; Bricklaying dull; very little doing at present time. Carpentcry and joinery very good; there is still a demand for good tradesmen. Painting, and papprhangnig is still busy, and inquiries are made for a few more hands. Plastering dull, the trade being slack at present. Plumbing and gasfitting trades are still very busy. Stonemasonry very good; all hands fully employed.

Woodworking trades: Boxinaking continues very busy. Cabinetmaking und upholstering—Manufacturers report that trade on the whole has been very fair. Coopering fairly busy, and trade will improve as the season advances. Sash and door factories, sawmilling, and wood* turning, etc:, havo been fairly busy.

Engineering trades: Boilermaking still slack, and. no improvement on previous month has: been shown. Brass and coppersmithiiig still fairly good. Electrical engineering is busy, trade being quivo equal- to that of last month. Fitting niul turning very good; a few good titters are required. Iron and brass moulding fairly good. Ilangomaking fair. Leather ;trades: Bootinaking (factories and repair shops)— Trade lias own wry good, all hands being fully employed. Saddlery and harnessmaKing—Factory work fairly busy, and an improvement m shop trade has taken place. Clothing trades: Dressmaking and millinery- very busy, and considerable overtime has been necessary to complete orders for. the. holidays." Shirtmakinj— factories busy, and there is still a demand . fop workers. Tailoring (factories and .order)— Trade has been very busv, aud all the available overtime has keon made to cope with orders for completion for the holidays.

Retail trades: Clothing, boots, drapery,and groceries-r-Very good trade has been •dane, :aud.is!iopkeepers are well satisfied with the amount of business during tho Christmas season.

"j Printingfffailes:'" 'Bookbinding fairly busy. - Printing—A considerable improvement on previous month has occurred.

Meat freezing, etc.: Tanning, currying, and fellmongering—Trade good, and improving as the season'advances. Slaughtering, freezing, and preserving very good, 'and in the course ot a lew weeks will be in full.swing.

Coachbuilding trades: Blacksmithing fairly busy. Coach, carriage, and tramcar building—An improvement on last month is noticeable.

Cycle and motor trades: Repair-shops are kept fairly busy.

X-nskilled labour:. Conditions locally continue to improve, and able-bodied men had littlo or no excuse for being unemployed during tho whole of 'ihe demand for workers in country districts still remains unabated, * and" the Department has employment available for quite three hundred pick-and-shovel men, both for the Government and for private employers; a strict selection of men for work of this class is.made, as the conditions laid down by employers ore emphatic that' the men must be" experienced. -About fifty vacancies aro available for farm hands, and there are also recorded applications by employers for married couples, ploughmen, carpenters, painters, brickworkers; etc. Although .the number of men assisted during the month was fairly large, the total nur»iber of applicants was considerably less than for any previous month during 19)0. Employment was found for 32 married and 105 (-ingle men, with 119 dependents, lit being sent to privato employment and 23 to Government works. Included amongst those assisted were butchers, carpenters, engine-drivers, cooks, farm hands, painters, and labourers.

AUCKLAND. The condition of trade up to the holidays lnis been highly satistactory, everybody being busy. NAPIER, December has been the busiest month of the year in trade geuerally. The weather was good on Christmas Eve, which materially improved the volume of trade. Tho general turnover was sufficiently good to produce an all-round favourable report from shopkeepers. In . factories there has been fair' activity, mainly lo finish up work to allow tho factories to close for the last week in the month. A large amount of overtimo has been worked, especially in the tailoring, dressmaking, millinery, and printing trades; and mo;e overtime has been worked in shops than in any previous period of the year, principally in window-dressing and preparations' for the Christmas and NewYear trade.

PAIiMEBSTON NORTH. Retail business has been very satisfactory during; the past month, and storekeepers generally state that it has been better than for several years past. Outside work has been fairly plentiful, tho building trades having been particularly busy. "Tho outlook for the future is bright, and several permits have been issued by the 'Borough Council for new buildings to bo erected soon. MAKTERTON. During the period just ended trade and labour have brightened up considerably, anil from reports received the volume of Christmas business may Iw classed' as satisfactory. Building trades throughout are fairly busy, and tradesmen have been fully employed. Shearing is practically completed throughout the district, and numbers of shearers have loft for other parts, where the season is later. Tho Wellington Meat Company's freezing: works at Waingawa opened during tho month for killing and freezing operations; and when in full working-ordir n largo number of hands will be employed; the" opening-tip of these works should prove nil excellent enterprise for tho district in every respect.

CHRISTCHURCH,

Trade generally, owing to the approaching festive season, has been very good indeed. In the retail trades a largo business has already been done, and big prepartitions liavo been miido for the usual Christmas and New Year's shopping; this preparatory work lins entailed a large amount of overtime being worked in ticketing and arranging stock. Factories generally have been busy, especially so in the dressmaking, millinery, and clothing, hat and cap departments; and also in laundries, in which it was found necessary to work a considerable amount

of overtime. The grain and grass-seed harvest will be earlier this year than usual, and should call for a considerable number of workers during the .coming month. The building trades still continue busy. A good season is anticipated for tradesmen generally, and especially for carpenters and joiners, painters, bricklayers, and plumbers.

DVNEDIN. Tho conditions pertaining to labour and business during tlia period under review may be said to be most satisfactory. This is,' of course, tho' busiest season lor the clothing trades, and reports indicate that a ; record business has been done, and comparatively early in the month some tailors had to refuse more orders for completion before Christmas. Tho whole season has been a very good one, starting earlier than usual, and maintaining the improvement right. up to the. end. ' The building trades have again experienced a fairly good month.