THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXIV, Issue 13934, 16 December 1905, Page 3

THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT.

The following repeats regarding the labour mancet in Canterbury appear in the “Journal of the Department of Labour ” published on December 11 Raugiora.-—Building trades: Rather slack. .Engineering trade : Fairly busy. Boot trade: Good. Clothing trade: Very busy, overtime being worked. Dressmaking and millinery very busy. Retail trade (general): . Good, but money scarce. ' Miscellaneous: Flax and twine mills busy. Unskilled labour: No applications ■ for work during month; all local hands fully employed. Shearing just started in this district. Christchurch. —Report States that, while tiid weather was most unfavourable for the carnival season, it did not interfere materially with trade; dressmaking, tailoring and millinery factories were exceptionally busy, and a considerable amount of ‘overtime was worked ; retailers were apparently kept busy, and trade in all branches was very active. It is to be hoped that, now that the weather has taken a change for the better, it will continue &o for some time, as Christchurch has had more tiiaii a fair share of rain, and, as a result, farming work has been considerably retarded. The building trade is still very active, several large buildings are in course of erection, and plans are being prepared for several others. Judging from reports and appearances, builders have a busy,time before them. Engineering is still- very quiet. With the exception of the range-making there is very little activity in the iron trade/ It .is very unfortunate that the trade should he so slack, and employers 'cannot explain the cause of the slackness. Boot factones are all working fulHian-ded, and soma of them had to work overtime before the holidays to keep pace with pressing orders. Clothing factories are working full-handed, but are not working up to last year’s standard; some manufacturers say the market, is overstocked with imported ready-made clothing, and that in consequence the orders do not come in as formerly; Older tailoring is working quite up to former standard, and a considerable amount of overtime has been done, shirtmaking factories axe busy, a considerable amount of overtime being worked. Dressmakers and milliners are still busy; they have worked a considerable amount of overtime during the month, but that state of affairs has eased off, and business has resumed its normal seasonal condition. Agricultural implement factories are working full-handed, but the late rains have kept farming operations back so much tnat it has interfered with this line of business. Carriage factories are working full-handed, and the trad© is in a satisfactory condition with an improving tendency. ’ Plumbers and sheetmetal workers are busy, but tinsmiths are rather quiet. Plasterers are very busy; good men can readily find work. Painters .are fairly busy, but the Union reports a few men out of. work. Tanners, pelt-workers and fellmongers are very, slackthat is , of’Course, due to the fact that operations have not started at the meat-works yet. Curriers are busy. Retail trade generally appears to be in a very satisfactory condition, and,.if the excuses of shopkeepers for keeping their assistants later than 9 p.m. on Saturday nights is taken as a guide, they must be very busy, because the invariable excuse us that they cannot serve their customers in. the time allowed- hy the Act. .Unskilled labour: There are not many men applying here for work, and those .so applying, if suitable, have all found employment. Seventy-six women were sent to work during the month. Ashburton.—Building, trades: There is nothing fresh to report at present with regard to these trades. All hands have been fairly _ well employed at town and country jobs. There are contracts out for two or throe good-sized houses which will keep the men going for a time. Engineering trade: There is a little more life in this branch of business with a prospect of continuance. Freezing works: Only the shearers and a few nands for wool-dry-ing and mixing manures employed at present. Clothing trade:_ The woojleu factory is going along quietly, hut, as was mentioned last month, there is nothing very cheering in the outlook. Retail trade (general): Average business being done. Miscellaneous: Restaurant keepers and fruiterers doing good business. Blacksmiths, wheelwrights, saddlers, tailors, tinsmiths, plumbers, painters and ironmongers fairly busy. Milliners and dressmakers very busy and working overtime. There are very few idle men in the town at the present time, and, a® the shearing will be in full swing from this time, all surplus labour will be absorbed. Tiniaru.—Building trades : Fairly busy; no bricklayers ox - carpenters reported as being out of work; painting, plumbing and gasfitting all very busy; painters scarce. Engineering trade; Very good, all hands making full time. Agricultural implement making: Still very busy. Boot trad©: Quieter than for some months past, employees only working five days a week. Clothing trade: Fairly busy. Dressmaking: Owing to warm weather having set in this trade is booming. Millinery: Exceptionally busy. Retail trade: In groceries a steady trade is doing. Clothing and boots are rather quiet. Miscellaneous: .timber and joinery trades: A brisk steady trade doing. t Oabinctraaldng very busy, with every

sign of lasting; saddlery and blacksmithing fairly busy and improving; carriage-building very busy; bookbinding and stationery busy. Unskilled labour: During the month quite a number of men have flocked into this district, principally pick-and-sbovel men; notwithstanding this there are very few local men applying for work, and those .can easily be placed either privately dr on railway works.