A STEADY IMPROVEMENT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 3574, 25 February 1914, Page 6

A STEADY IMPROVEMENT.

LABOR- CONDITIONS IN GIS-

BORNE.

THE DEPARTMENTAL REPORT

The following is said of Gisborne in the current number of the Labor Journal : , ■ Trade and labor conditions showed a steady improvement towards the end of the month. The effect of labor troubles, although not so keenly felt here as in other centres, was to make business verv dull at the beginning of the month,' but in most instances it has recovered its normal condition. Te different branches of the building trade, which have been somewhat slack in comparison with previous months, are again in full swing. Building Trades.—'Bricklaying, tarpentr'y and jonery, painting, plumbing and gasfitting, and plastering are now fairly busy—plumbing and gasfitting exceptionally so—with every prospect of continuing busy during the coming season

\V ood work ing Trades. —Ca'b) net in afcing and upholstering, sush and door factories, sawmilling, wood-turning, etc., lire all 'busy, and hands have been inquired for in most of the branches; the strike, having checked to a largo extent the importation of timber, has given an additional number of orders to the local sawmillers.

Engineering Trades.—Agriculturalimplement repairing has ‘kept busy through the month. Electrical engineering, fitting and turning are also kept busy. Iron and brass moulding: A sufficienry of work is in hand to keep the few. hands employed going for some time.

Leather Trades.—Bootmakin" (repair shops): All hands are fully employed. Saddlery and harnessmak* ing: All hands are fully employed, but there is no more work than local hands can deal with.

Clothing Trades.—Dressmaking and millinery have been somewhat busier towards the end of the month, hut are scarcely up to the normal standard, as very little overtime has been worked in any of the factories. Tailoring (order): This trade lias recovered from the, reaction due to the rush of l» 1 holidays, and is now lairiv busy, with all hands fully employed; time is no doubt that this trade - vdl continue busy until after the flaster holidays. Retail Trade.—Clothing, boots, and drapery: These trades are si.il on the quiet side, but have much on proved since the last report. Groceries are normal; several tradesmen ccmplam of difficulty in collecting their accounts, owing to the shortage cf money. Meat-freezinfg, etc.—Tanning, carrying, fellmongefy, and slaughtering, freezing, and preserving are networking full-handed; aiclnugh the weather has been phenomenally dtv for some time past, feed is fa.r'ly plentiful, especially 'back in the hill districts, and sheep and cattle are ccming in freely ; it is therefore expected that both the local works will make a record this season. Coachbuilding Trades.—llla.ksnrthing and coach and carriage uiidkig are now fairly busy, but ' o bands have been inquired for; there is every ].reliability of trade continuing geoct m these branches until the winter season sots in. Cycle and motor trades: Trade is fairly brisk in these branches, and all hands are fully employed. Agriculutral Operations.—Farming, dairying, etc.: The harvesting is now a'boiit finished, and as far as the small amount done here is concerned the harvest has been a good one. The dairying season has been good till within the last week or so, when the dry and hot weather somewhat interfered with the product of milk : matters are beginning to look rather serious, and mdess rain comes within a short time this industry will suffer scy,erely. Unskilled Labor.—Ten applications for labor- have been received during the month, riiostly for pick-and-shovel men. One man was sent to Government railway-works and one to private employment. I think the conditions for unskilled labor are good at present, and will probably continue so for the remainder of the summer season.