TRADE AND LABOUR.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1054, 17 February 1911, Page 8

TRADE AND LABOUR.

CONDITIONS FAIRLY PROSPEROUS. ' AN OFFICIAL -REVIEW. Keporting upon the conditions of trade and . labour , in the Dominion dur-, ing January, the Labour' Journal, issued yesterday, states that in Wellington the usual .falling;off in business and trade generally experienced during the month of January has been but slight this year. Despito the hoavy cash.sales made during the Christmas and New Year season,, shopkeepers report tho continuance of a largo volume of business.' The clothing manufacturing trades continue very busy, juid ,in tho tailoring and dress and shirt making industries overtime is still being worked, and several factories are working short-handed. - The building' tradesmen, except bricklayers and plasterers, aro all fairly steadily employed. Tho City Building Superintendent reports that, whilst during the four weeks ending December' 13, 1910, fifty-three permits, involving _j£40,490 in' erections and alterations, were issued: from that date till the end . of January eighty-four permits, for .£2G,OG2, havo been granted: it ;will thus be.seen that the work going on must be mainly of a jobbing nature. The slaughtering,and- meat-freezing trades are. exceptionally, busy, even ■ for this period,of the year. '.

• Building trades:: Bricklaying—There is no change, in: tho . trade generally, and ( several hands are still'idle; , Carpentry and joinery .is fßirly. good, and very few hands are out of.employment: there,is a .demand in the country, district's for good tradesmen. Paintincr and paperhanging is fairly busy,' chiefly in " jobbinpt-work. Plastering—There is, very, little improvement "on last month/ plumbing and. gasfitting—Although - somewhat fiuiet.'. all. hands ore kept fully employed.. Stonemasonry is practically the same as in the proyious report; all hands being fully employed., ' . .'. ■' .' '.-

Woodworking trades: Boxmaking still very busy, and employment-can bo found for several good hands. Cabinetmaki'ng and uphnlstcriiis:—Trado is very . good, and overtime is beihtr worked.' Cooperifig is very busy, and all available, men n t ro fully employed.. Sash aud:door factories, wiwmillin*, wnnd-tnrnine. etc., 'are' .fairly ;busy, and renort- a-slight-improvement on last month.

. Engineering trades] • Boilcrmaking slightly better than last month". Brass Qnd copper-smithing steady;. Electrical engineering—There is "no alteration in .this trade from the previous month. Fittine and turnine, iron and bra's moulding still fairly good, and-n few good moulders are rermired.. "Rnngemakinsr fair. ■ ■

Leather trades: Bootmnking .'(factory arid repair shops) very brisk,- and there i= a demand for. good factory hands. Saddlery and harnessmnkine is very cood in factory-work; shop trade'.is quiet.

Clothincr trades: Dressmaking and millinery still busy, nnd inquiries l are made for hands. Shiftmaking very busy; one firm alone required over twenty more hands. Tailoring (factories and order) knntinues busy: th.ere is n, demand for 'fvor.il Rood tailoreeses." ' Woollen-niilling still very busy, and wnrking;oyertime/

■Retail trades: Clothing, boots, 'drapery, and groceries—Very fair trade has been done during ,tho month, considering/ the pxeentinmlly large- cash business done atthe holiday time. 1 .... . .■ Prinfirirr ' trades: Bookbinding and nrintins fairly bu«y.

Meat-freezing, etc.:. Tanning; currying, and fellmongering very . busy. Slaughtering, freezing, end preserving 'exceptionally busy; the work is now in, full swing; stock' is plentiful, and: arriving.;in good condition.,;';"'.; '''/.'j" l .':

Coachbuilding,'. tradesßlaekSmithing-;. ImproVenl'e'itr.oh .life't;; 'month.;'' Coach! carriage, .and .'tram-car,, btiildiflg—Trado fairly good; repair work is-busy. ,

Cyclo and motor trades fairly brisk, particularly in repair work.. - . ,■ ;

Unskilled labour and general: The demand men has been good during the pdriodi' nnd competent navvies and builders' labourers' have experienced no difficulty in obtaining wdrk.., Indeed,' hands lra^'bqeii 0 . advertised''for" locally; at lis. per day, whilst on the books of tho Department there' hayo been openings available for all hands capable of doing labourers' work; in both the and country districts. Farm hands continue to bo in strong demand from all parts of the Wellington district', and the shortage of boys-is so creat that farmers are willing to engage, hands who have had no previous experiorico at the work. \ Conditions of trado and labour in Auckland are reported to bo very. satisfactory. .. ' - ' , •

Regarding Christchurch,, ;it is stated that trade generally is quite up .to expectations .iot:," this rperjod.;..- ■ Jil';,r"fbo retail tradefi" busings/wa's 'voi'y: btii'y ;tip to tho end o,f;thtf holidays, but .sdnce', then :trade has quietened down.' . Faetbries|: generally have been'quite ,as ■brisy i .as usual during tlio mbnth.of January; ' 'Agricultural' and pastoral operations are at present very busy. ' The demand for? labour for farm rind other work has been'very'active; in fact, it has ibeen impossible a;t times to supply, the labour, fequired. ,

?:Reports from Dnhedin show that .trade crenerally may fairly be said to compare favourably with the corresponding-period of last year.

In Gisborne trade , and • labour conditions still continue vory satisfactory: all classes of skilled tradesmen are fully emnloyed, and work is plentiful for unskilled labourers. . '

-Napier reports state that the briskness in trade generally has been well maintained during the 'month-just ' ended, which compares moro than favourably with the corresponding month 'of •■'-last year. • ■ '

In New Plymouth the period just'ended has been tho busiest experienced during tho whole year, both in tho manufacturing and retail trades.- Butter nnd chcese factories are still bnsy,- although'in some factories tho output, is gradually diminishing. Tho season so; far; has been a very satisfactory one'.

Business • during the month in Wanganui has boon very good, but, of course, a little quieter than in the .previous month. Tradespeople generally are Well satisfied.. and very hopeful that the improved conditions will continue. AJI journeymen are busy. During tho mouth inquiries for tradesmen have, been received by tho Department.

Business has been very satisfactory also in Palmorston North during . the last month, although during tho early pari of tho period trado was' a little slack, on account, of the holidays. As. the weather has been exceptionally fine, outside workers have had good opportunities, considering the season. - Prospects for the future are bright, especially in tho building trades.

. Masterton- reports state that during the past month the conditions of. trade, and. labour havo" maintained affair standard. A number of summer': sales have. commenced, nnd so far.report good-business;' Ilarvesting operations havo absorbed' a considerable number of ,workers. The now freezing -works' are still increasing their staff, so that-a large , number •of hands; is. now ■ engaged in this industry. Station-holders and farmers are now go-' ing in extensively for . rabbit-extermina-tion; consequently a;lnrge nuhiber of nien aro engaged in laying poison. -There is. however, riot any marked improvement in the majority of trades, which aro reported as normal.