THE LABOUR MARKET.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1156, 27 April 1894, Page 35

THE LABOUR MARKET.

Tho April number of the Journal of tho Department of Labour, issued on Friday, says that the greatest number of unemployed are to bo found in Auckland and Christchuroh. It is hoped, says tho Journal, that the Government and local bodies will bo ablo during 1 the coming winter to start productive works, which will havo tho effect of roliovingthoat present overstocked labour markot. Christchurch suffers from having no outlqtfor the* surplus city population. Tho Journal trusts that there will bo no olomont of charity in the schemo for tho unemployed in Christchurch. Onco import that into dealing with tho able-bodied unemployed difficulty, says tho Journal, and tho wholo thing will end in a failure. Other parts of tho Colony show that work is not at all plentiful, but, as this is known as the dull season, harvest operations being finished and bush-foiling not yet started, there is nothing to cause any great alarm. No doubt, in tho bush-felling season men will not bo procurable. Tho local reports state that in Wellington tho building, iron and boot trades are very dull. With regard to the retail trade, loading: shopkeepers state that fair business is being* done—better than for tho corresponding: period last year. As to unskilled labour, during tho month a largo number of moa havo applied for employment. A fow trades* men and labourers havo boon placed on local Government works. Sevoral men, with their wives and families, havo also boon put on the> Stato farm at Lovin. / A largo number of men are at work in tha

Huntervillo district, somo of them boing eraployed on contracts in tho township at streotformations, &c. Tho agent states that there are numbers of mon walking about looking for employment, but ho expects they will speodily bo absorbed by bushfolling, &c At Masterton trade is fairly good. As the season advances bushfelling will again absorb almost all thoso at present out of work. The Pahiatna agent roports that ho has had very fow applications for work during tho month, although a largo numbor of men have passed through tho township, prosumably looking for employment. Trauo is quiet at Martinborough. A fow goneral laboorors and bushmon aro reported as being out of omploymout.