TRADE IN OAMARU.

North Otago Times, Volume CIV, Issue 13773, 9 January 1917, Page 7

TRADE IN OAMARU.

DEPARTMENTAL REPORT. ' j ' The local officii of the Department of Labour reports the following conditions of employment' and trade, at'Oamaru for the period ended 2S,•]!)]«:--The conditions of trade and hibour generally have been very satisfactory. Trade has been good and -employment is plentiful. As far as can be ascertained, there are no skilled or unskilled willing workers out of employ: meat. \ The building trade.-?, with the exception of stonemasons, are busy. Carpenters and labourers are in demand, Factory workers have been steadily, employed, and a good deal ot overtime lias been worked, particularly in the clothing trades. The retailers llitve had a busy month, and in most cases overtime was necessary to cope with the Christinas orders. Shopkeepers generally reporl capital business, particularly during the .latter part of the period, The atmosphere of utility w:is^more apparent jin lliis occa-. sion than ii: previous limes, and returns show in many cases that the previous 'Christinas takings have been' greatly exceeded. Building Trades.—Carpentry and joinery: Busy; tradesmen are iu demand. Plumbing and gaslitling: Kusy. Painting: Busy. Stonemasons: Quiet. ■ Wood - working Trades.-Cabinet-making and upholstery: Fair; all hands employed. Wood-turning: Quiet. Sash and door factories: Fair. Sawmilling: Fair. lingiiiecring. Trades, —Quiet, but all hands employed. < Leather Trades. —Hoot: repairs: Uusy. Saddlerv and harness-making: Im-

proved; now busy. Clothing Trades—Dressmaking and millinery: Busy; factories have been working to their utmost capacity. Tailoring: Busy; all hands' employed. Woollen-milling: Busy; working full capacity. Retail Trades.—'Clothing aiid mercery fair. Boot and shoe dealers report good steady trade. Drapery, jiniceries, and hardware busy, well up to standard. . i'rfuting and book-binding: Steady; ill hands employe,l. Coach and motor-body building: Busy. Cvcle and Motor Trades—Cycles: Busy, Motor engineering: Busy. Agricultural Operations—Farming, dairying, etc,; Fair, Flour-milling; Fair, Bacon-curing: Fair. Unskilled Labour.—-During the mouth there has been a falling-oil' iu the number of workers seeking employment, Alt that have applied were readily placed.