THE LABOUR MARKET.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14245, 20 June 1908, Page 3

THE LABOUR MARKET.

The 'Journal of tie Department of Labour, for June contains the following reports of the condition of the labour market:— DUNBDIN. A review of the past month indicates that there was considerable room for improvement in both tirade ajid business. During the past few weeks it has been noticeable Urat a number of good outdoor workers have been lidle. Tkeso meu are good tradesmen, and for tho most part are connected with the building industry. It is considered that the period of slackness will5 ' not be of long duration, though it cannot j bo expected that the building industry would J continue busy in the same sense as lias been ' the case for the past three or four years. ! Those employed in factories havo to soino | extent felt- an oasing-off in their particular | lines, which in. a great. measure is due to j tho approach of winter. It is expected that: in the course of a few weeks this slackness will disappear. Business amongst retailers is regarded as fair, with a seasonable turnover of trade being experienced. Prom inquiries made, there is evidently no par-, ticular change in the matter of shortness of money; neither is there any unusual desire on the part of purchasers! to obtain credit. Inquiries made amongst tho various factories show that in the agricultural implement manufacturing things are about tho same as they wore last month, though, a few men who were idle have been taken on.' There is, however, not very much prospect of pronounced improvement for a few weeks yet. Carpenters still show a sJaokening-off. The.ro is a possibility of a quiet winter. Cottage-building seems ' to bo on the decline, and there are very lew contracts of any magnitude in hand. Bricklayers: All 1 tradesmen aro employed, and have made firstclass lime during the past month. The outlook for them, in common with other buildiug trades, is not too bright. Painters: Trade this mouth- has been quiet, but this is only to be expected at this period of the year. There are a number of experienced hands idle. Plumbers: Steady trade has done during the month,. and oil tradesmen havo made good time. Plasterers: Thoso are on tho quiet side. A few- men have left Duncdin for northern towns,while, others have had to remain idle owing to tho condition of buildings not being forward enough for tfoeir particular operations.

Coaehworkera: Satisfactory time lias been ma<lc; all hands arc employed, but there is nothing to indicate that the trade is by any means brisk. Saddlers have been kept fairly busy a.ll the month. In one or two instances overtime has been worked, owing to the necessity of havkg to put forward winter orders. Engineering: An improvement on !psl month, and the indications ar e that it will continue fo for a few weeks' time. In some shops overtime- has been worked to complete orders in hand. Boot manufacture: The trade report states that business during the month has keen very i good, and that all hands have been fully .employed. Sail, tent, and cover making: 1 Excellent turnover has been experienced iii ■ all faolories, and overtime worked in one or two shops. Shop tailoring: First-class Iwnincss has been done, and there appears to bo a shortness of labour so far as experienced hands are concerned. Clothing factories are busy, and, though tho pressure is not so great duruig the past few months, 'there is still a sufficiency of orders in hand to keep all interested goujg on full time for Borne weeks to come yet. Dressmaking Dud millinery: The usual season's trade has been got through, nevertheless there are a mimbsr of workers wJio are not so constantly employed as they might be. Furniture trade: A. good turnover during the month; an improvement on last period possibly will continue for some tinio yet. All bunds ■ aro fully employed, and in one or two branches experienced tradesmen could ba placed. Printers and stationers aro not so busy as last month; still all hands are kept going. Country workers: There is a good ilemaud for ploughmen, milkers, and 1 rabbitera, and in. any of these lines no difficulty is experienced in.placing suitable men. Unskilled workers: During the month tliere has been an increase of applicants of this class. Amongst them it is noticeable that a large proportion aTe arriving from the Australian States. WJiere they are capable of doing ordinary country work or navvy work they can be placed; but in many instances t-bay are not qualified' to undertake employment of this character, and as a consequence there is a difficulty in finding suitable for them. Frfty-two men were placed in employment,. 34 with private ran- ' ployers and 18 on. pablic works. OAMA&U. Building trades: Carpenters, stonemasons, painters, plumbers, and plasterers fully employed. Engineering trade: .Not busy, but the regular hands aire bang kept on. Boot trade: Factories quiet—regular hands kept at work. Shops quiet, not making full time. Clothiug trade (factories): Busy, Boy Mid girl labour required. All hands iully employed. Retail trade: Groceries quiet. Clothing good. Boots quiet. Miscellaneous: I Coachbuildors, saddlers, and sawmillers I fairly busy; regular hands employed. 1 Cabinetmakers quiet. Tailors one; diess- ! makers fairly busy; regular hands at work, j The period in all branches of business Jias been JniTly good, but not brisk. Fannys i are now at work ploughing, etc., and giving ! employment to a good many men. Unskilled 1 labour: OnCy one roan applied to the dei partment for work. He was sent to private } employment. Inquiries wore made for | ploughmen. Unskilled labour is scarce in ( | tho district at present, but on the comi pletion oi potato-digging it is expected the J supply will meet tho demand. I ==