THE LABOUR MARKET.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13857, 21 March 1907, Page 2

THE LABOUR MARKET.

Tlio March issue of the Labour Department's Journal gives t!ie following information regarding tho condition of tlio labour market in Otago: — Duncclm.—Business ami trade generally during tlio month may be paid to be on tho whole very satisfactory, and in fome few trades a distinct improvement is manifest. The lull ' in tlio agricultural implement trudo lias passed away, ami n slight improvement is visible. All tl'.c clothing trades are in it healthy condition, but tlio dressmaking establishments have scarcely got t ba<'k into their normal condition since tlio holiday season. Tlio engineering trades are jon til? whole better than they were this time last year, though the number of hands employed is practically ibo same. Tho cosichbuilding trade is somewhat better, though far below a fair standard of what it ought to be.' The retail trades ara doing a. fair roiiml of business, better on tho wholo than tlio corresponding period of last year. Ihe exceedingly dry seanon has seriously ailocted tho fanning industry, many of tho grain", crops being miserably poor, and this, together with tl'.o open season, lias preventod tho tanners from giving employment to liarvest and other hands as was tho custom in years of plenty. It is. to be fca-rcd that nil trades and businesses will be more or less affected by the depression caused by the,exceptionally poor season.. This siceouuts in a largo measure for the nmnbsr of unemployed applicants at tlii.-; ofilee at this period of tlio year. Agricultural implement works: Fairly busy, no hands idle; slight improvement on last month. Building trades: Most of tho building lirnis have all they ran do to meet tho demands of the trade. All hands , are making fair time. 800 l and shoe trades: A distinct improvement on last month's output.. It is rather premature to say whethor this improved state of trade is likely to contiuue. Fciualo machinists ste in great demand. Brick and tile manufacturing: One of the largest firms hero is very busy, and the others have had a very fair output during the month. Brush nianufaciUTcrs hnve all they can do to overtako the demands ot the trade, and aro very busy. Clothing trades: The clothing factories aro exceedingly busy, many of them; working short handed and making overtime. The cninloyers say that female workers are not obtainable. This is the case in many of thn trades. Shop tailoring trades are doing good ousiness, with indications of a conlinuynco of the present prosperity. Coachbuilding trade: This trade is showing an upward tenucncy. Tho business douo in new vehicles is a, marked improvement on last month, and artisans are making very fair time. Cycle and light engineering: On tho wholo business is brisk, and all hands arc ftiliy employed. .Dressmaking and millinery: A 'little busier than las': month, with ovory prospect of improvement in the coming months. Plumbing and gasfiltin-,': One or two linns are on tho quiet side, but the majority aro able to keep their hands fully employed. Sash and. door factories: Exceedingly busy in every dapartluent. Woollen mills: Really busy in tho woollen departments, with considerable improvement in the worsted branches, the hosiery department being about nrrni.il. Unskilled labour: There baa been more than the ordinary r,umber of applicants for work at this period of the year. This, no doubt, is due In the feet that there has been so little demand for harvest hands m tho country districts, in consequence of the poor craps and tho very fine weather lafoly experienced, the farmer;* being able to roup their 'crops by tho aid of tho latest, machinery and witli the aid of their own families. One hundred and twenty-:;ino parsons have been sent to employment from this office d.nring the period under review—S3 married nie.r and 106 single men, with 3S dspendants. Of the total number, 2-1 wero from the Commonwealth and f.our frcrni Great r Britain,

Oaniaru.—Building trade. l ;: Stonemasons, carper.iers, paintere, plumbers, and plasterers, busy; all regular hands employed. Engineering and agricultural machinery work:' Still fairly busy with harvest amt threshing v;ci'!t. Blacksmiths: Qiuet, but regular bands kept on. Coachbnildcrs: Fairly busy; regular bands at work. Cabinetmakers'. Quiet; full lia'e not made. Bootmakors: Not busy; but regular hands retained. Tnilors and 'kilorcsscs: Busy, regular hands employed. Dressmakars: Fully employed. AYcoUen factory: Busy; extra hands taken on and overtime worked. Retail trade: Not busy, yet tho supply of farm requisites during harvest and threshing lias improved matters a little. UnI skilled labour. IVont-y-ihroc arsons applied for wort; 16 were sent lo co-operativd works and five to private employment.