LABOUR MARKET.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXI, Issue 112, 13 May 1911, Page 9

LABOUR MARKET.

CONDITIONS IN WELLINGTON. THE PAST MONTH. The following summary on. the conuition of the various trades in Wellington is taken from the monthly issue of the Labour Journal. tn the building trade a fairly husr month has been experienced. Retail trades have been very fair, and with the exception of grocery, show an improve.nient over the previous month. There is still a shortage of hands reported in several of the clothing trades, and overtime work has had to be resorted to to cope with current work. The bricklaying trade is still dull. Carpentry and joinery was fairly busy for the first three weeks of the month, but towards the latter part slackened off, and some twenty hands were discharged ; trade is, however, expected to ■improve shortly, as several large contracts are coming out. In the painting trade jobbing work has bne/i very brisk ; plastering is still slack. Plumbing a-nd gas-fitting very busy : several hands have been put on during the month, and good tradesmen, particularly tinsmiths, are still in demand. Stonemosonry very good; all hands fully employed. Box-making still continues good ; com. petent hands are in demand. Cabinetmaking and upholstering fairly good 5 large orders are coming in. which are keeping the regular staffs fully employed, and prospects are briglit. Coopering exceptionally goodj several hands uave been taken on during the last few weeks, and the busiest part of the season, has still to come. Sash and. door factories and sawmilling fairly busy ; considerable improvement on last month has been shown. Good, steady work is being maintained in the wood-turning trade. Boilermaking .fairly busy, and great improvement on last month has eventuated owing to several large buildings in course of erection being constructed with heavy girders. Brass and coppersmithing shows improvement on last month, • and in «ome workshops overtime is being made. Electrical engineering is' better, jand prospects for the near future appear very good. Steady work is being experienced in the fitting and turning trade, chiefly in repairs. Iron and brass moulding is better than it was last month, and regular hands are kept fully employed. Range-making has been quieter during th» month. 1 Bootmaking (factories) very busy, and in some workrooms there is a difficulty in fulfilling orders. Repair shops aro still busy. In saddlery and hai-ness-making trade is very satisfactory in all branches, particularly in repair work, order work, and retail. Dressmaking and millinery are reported to be quiet, but it is expected that as the winter advances trade will improve. Shirtmaking is still at high pressure, and the same difficulty is experienced—the want of workers. Tailoring (factories) exceptionally busy; the difficulty is to get hands, and consequently a deal of overtime is made. Order trade is very good, and has been fairly consistent during the month. Woollen-mill, ing is still very busy; more hands arereehiired'in the various branches. Clothing, boots, and drapery trades fairly good, and are reported to be considerably better than during the corresponding month of last year. There has been a slight falling-off in the grocery trade.