CONDITIONS OF LABOUR.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15822, 22 July 1913, Page 7

CONDITIONS OF LABOUR.

The following statements with regard to the conditions of employment and trade in the centres Dunedin, Oamani, and Invcrcargill are taken from the Journal of the Department of Labour for tho month of July:-

, Dunedin.—A slight improvement in the state of trade in most industries took place during the period under review, but in some branches ot the building trade conditions are anything but good. Particularly is this so in cho case of- carpenters, painters, and plasterers. Tho prospects, however, aro better, and it is anticipated that the ensuing month will show a decided improvement. Tho engineering trade, remains in about tho same condition as last month, excepting in the caso of agricultural-implement manufacturing and rungemaking, which have improved a little. The leather trade and clothing trades (factories) continue to be good, and tho. outlook is promisin;:. Order tailoring, contrary to expectations, revived considerably during the month, and trade for the most part is now fairly good; while in the printing trade a. considerable improvement has also been experienced. Those engaged in the retail trades are well pleased with the turnover, particularly theso who carry on clothing, drapery, and boot establishment*. This is due probably to the fact that there was a very large influx of country residents to tho Winter Show and other prevailing attractions. Building trades; Bricklaying is good, and all operatives will bo in full employment for some time to come. Carpentry and joinery—Thero is no improvement to report in this lino, and a goodly number of tradesmen are idle; cottage-building is practically at a standstill for the -reason given in last report—viz., financial stringencies— and although there are a fow big jobs going on, it will take some little time beforo many more carpenters are employed thereon. Painting—A slack month has been experienced, and there were quite a number of journeymen out of work during the wholeperiod. Plastering still continues to be slack, and several operatives are out of employment. ' Trade, however, is expected to improve shortly, as a few jobs will then be ready for plastering. Plumbing and gasfitting steady, and as far as can be ascertained all men are in employment, but there is a tendency for trado to slacken off a little. Stonemasonry—Constant employment is offering for tho present hands engaged, and same conditions are expected to continue for some time to come. Woodworking trades: -Boxmalcing—This is the off season for this trade, and most firms arc engaged making stock. Oabinctmaking and upholstering—With most firms trade has been on tho quiet side, and a- few operatives have been temporarily out of employment, but some firms are very busy, and havo been able, to increase their staffs. Coopering—Normal trade is doing. Sash and door factories and eawmilling—Owing to the slackness in the building trades, these industries have consequently suffered somewhat severely, and it was found necessary to dispense with a fow hands. IJ7oodturning not quite so good as usual, but. so far firms have been able to retain I licit' usual number of workmen. Coal mining shows no sign of falling off, and there is every likelihood of its continuing to bo brisk for the next fow months _to come. Engineering trades: Asrricultural implement making fair, though not quite as good as during the corresponding period of last year; •skilled hands are fairly well employed, but (here is a dearth of employment for the unskilled worker. Boiler-making—There is little or no change to report in this line, and while somo firms are very busy others again are slack, with a few tradesmen idle. Brass and coppersmithing—A somewhat similar position exists to that of tho boilermaking trade, but taken all round business is considered to be fair. Electrical engineering quietened down a little during the month, duo to material ordered from other parts not coming to hand; nevertheless employment may be classed as steady. Fitting and turning—There is no improvement to report, -and trade continues to be dull; if thero is no revival in the near futuro it is expected that some firms will be compelled 1 to shorten hands. Iron and braesmoulding has fluctuated considerably during the month, and some five or six tradesmen arc idle, while several others are on broken time. Rangemaking—Trade is fairly good, especially with firms who do an export trade; tho local market, however, is quiet, and consequently in some instances broken time is being worked. Leather, trades: Bootmaking (factories) btisy._ and the full allowance of overtime is being worked in several departments. Bootmaking (repair shops)— Good steady winter trade is being" done, and occupiers report satisfactory business.. Saddlery and harnessmaking continues to be good, and all competent tradesmen are in steady employment. Clothing trades: Dressmaking mid millinery, generally speaking, is good, and a few hands could bo placed. There, are, however, one or two firms who, although they have their full staffs engaged, are not working full time. Tailoring (factories) steady; nil hands making full time. Tailoring (order) has revived during the month, and most shops are fairly busy. Retail trades: Clothing, boots, drapery, and groceries have been very good, especially at tho beginning of the month, when country visitors wore in town for the Winter Show. Printing trades: Bookbinding and printing show a considerable improvement on last month, and 'all firms are now employing the full complement of workers; prospects arc good, and there is not indication of slackness. Meat freezing, etc.: Tanning, currying, and fellmongcry—Average normal trade is being done, and' all works arc employing their usual number of assistants. Slaughtering, freezing, and preserving good up to the present time, but owing to the close of the season approaching trade will be quiet for the next -few months. CoachbuikKng trades: Blncksmithing and coach and 1 carriage building, etc., fairly good in all branches, and the secretary of the union reports that all members of Irs organisation are in full employment. Cvelo and motor trades: As is usual during the winter months business is dull, and employers find considerable difficulty in providing employment for those at present engaged. Unskilled labour: There has been a decided improvement in the lot of this class of worker, but at the same timo there aro a good many men in "the ranks of the unemployed.. Quito a number of these aro not physically fit to undertake the class of work offering. Fully half the number of men at the present lime on the books could be placed on tho Ida Valley irrigation works, while there is room for a small number on the Catlins-Waimahaka railway. Of those fit to do this class of work many prefer, for various reasons, such as the expense o£ keeping up twt> homes, etc., to remain in the oity on the off-chance of obtaining employment there. Others again, accustomed to farm and station work, are seeking light employment until tho advent of spring. The prospects are certainly much brighter than was the case last month, and as the ratepayers have sanctioned a further loan of £175,000 for street improvements, etc., thero should lie sufficient employment offering to keep the present staffs fully employed for some time to come. Both tho City Council and the Dunedin Drainage Board aro using every endeavour to push on works, and thus obviate anything in the nature of an unemployed trouble. The number of callers for employment during the month was 136. Of this number tho department placed 71 as follows:— 36 on Government works aud 35 with private employers. Sixteen were married and 55 single men, with 46 dependents.

Oamaru.—Tim r>ast month has been übusy one for the farmers in preparing the land for the wheat crop, and the ground lias been in excellent condition for the work. The potato crop is, generally speaking, a light one, and complaints are made hero and there that the. slug has done considerable damage owing to the month or so of dry weather just experienced, allowing tho pest to attack the tubers. A downpour of rain brings slugs to tho surface, and the birds arc then busy. Business generally has been fairly quiet, but, linns liavo manused to keep all hands employed. Building trades: Carpentry and joinery—.Some firms report being busy during the month. Painting—Just a medium business has been done. Plastering has been •busy for some time past, but is now slackening off. Plumbing and jraslitting—Plenty of work, and full employment reported, Stonemasonry—Several contracts are in hand in and around the town. Woodworking trades: Cahinetmaking and upholstering—Hands haw been kept fully employed. Sash and door factories, Kawmilling, and wood-turning, etc.— All hands kept going, though trade has been inclined towards dullness. Engineering trades: Agricultural-implement repairing, boiler-making, brass and copper-smith-ing, electrical engineering, fitting, and turning, and iron a.ud brans moulding—A satisfactory month lias been experienced, with full employment for all regular hands. Leather trades: Boot-making ( factories)— Employment has been constant, but. trade is not quite so brisk as previously. Bootmaking (repair-shops) very busy. Saddlery and hiuwssmaking—There has been sufficient work coming in to give all hands full lime. Clothing trades: Dressmaking— Some firms are busy. Millinery fairly quiet, Shirtmnkinor_busy. Tailoring(order') quiet. Woollen-milling busy, overtime being worked in eomo departments. Retail trades': Clothing—Quiet on tho whole. Boots medium. Drapery—Winter eeafon sales have caused considerable briskness in this do-

partment of trade. Groceries—Good business has been done, but money is tight. Printing trades: Book-binding and printing —Fair trade ruling. Meat-freezing, etc.: Tanning, currying, and felhnougering have boon busy, but are now quiet. Slaughtering, freezing, and preserving—Tho season just closed has been a very successful one. Coachbuilding trades: Blacksmithin:: fair. Couch nnd niage building—.All regular hands have „uii kept fully employed, but th.s is never a busy time of the year. Cycle and motor trades fairly busy in repairs, etc. Agricultural operations: Farming, dairying, etc.—The supply of cream to the butterfactories is bow at its lowest, and from tills time onward a gradual increase is looked for; the output from one of tho factories during the period bus been 10001b of butter per day. Miscellaneous: IronmongeryJust- a medium trade, has been done. Butchering—A fair trade lias been done, -with full employment for the men. Flour-milling busy. Unskilled labour: Up to tho present local labour has been to a large extent employed within tho district. There is certainiy no rush for assistance i rorii' ablebodied men at present here.

Invcrcargill.—trade generally is on the slack side, but manufacturers report a more buoyant tendency. The weather continues wet .and dreary, and outdoor workers have not made very good timo during the past few months. There i 6 plenty of work to be done, but workers have to stand by idle and waitpatiently till weather conditions permit them to resume. The building trade is very slack, and unemployed carpenters and joiners are rooro numerous than they ha-vo been for some years. Though some of tho indoor trades have not yet found it necessary to shorten hands, it ha 6 needed an effort to keep them all going. Agricultural implement' making is very slow, and, as manufacturers are carrying heavy stocks present- indications 6eeni to point to a reduction of hands in the near future. _ A spell of fine weather may, however, obviate this. General engineering shows signs of improvement since last report, with fair prospects. Taking conditions all round, trad., does not appear to be any worse than at other places, although to have to chronicle a really dull spell is quite a new experience in this district. Building trades have been generally on the slack side; many of tho builders have finished their contracts, and are at present depending on jobbing work, of which there is not much doing; by all appearances it will be quite two months before there is any improvement in the building line. Bricklaying slack; a few men idle; a. number of buildings at present in the architects' hands, will soon bo gone on with, when employment should bn found for all bricklayers. Carpentry and joinery—Carpenters slack, aud more men aro idle than has been the ca6e for some considerable time; cottage work continues to slacken off, and, as many new jobs in contemplation will bo in brick, tho carpentering branch of the building trade is not likely to improve for eomo time; there has been some demand for men for country work, and a- number have left the towii temporarily for outlying districts. Joiners aro also on the slack side, though very fow good men aro idle; thero are no openings for tradesmen from outside districts. Painting trade slack; all firms report a dullness; there are a number of painters idle; tradesmen from northern towijs havs been looking for work here, but without much success; from present indications this trado is not likely to be busy for some time. Plastering very slack; several ' men idle. Plumbing and gastitting—Taken all round, trado has been very fair, but a few men have been idle for short periods only; 'somo firms are' very slack, whilst others are busy and prepared to take on good men. Woodworking trades: Cabinetmaking and upholstering rather on the quiet side; it is somo years since an empty bench was to be 6een in a cabinetmaking shop in Invcrcargill. but lately the services of a number of men have had to bo dispensed with; some have found employment in other quarter?, while others Lara picking up odd jobs about tho town. 1 Upholstering steady; all hands fully employed. Sash and door factories—Good, steady trade being done, but with a Blackening tendency. Sawmilling—The tmued spell of wet weather has had a bad effect on this industry; tho j slackcnmg-off in building operations has been, to a certain extent, tho means of causing a slight slump in tho milling trade, and any improvement in building operations will naturally help along this industry; operations at tho mills are being carried on under anything but pleasant conditions, on account of the weather conditions prevailing; thero 'has boon a little inquiry for men, but m most cases only to fill vacancies caused by workers who bad decided to try something else for a change. Engineering trades: Agricultural implement-making very quiet; men have be-on kept going on reoairs and small jobbing work._ Boilermaking— A number of orders'for boilers for new dairy factories has como to hand within the past few weeks, and all men liavo been kept steadily going, Electrical engineering is still making headway, and employing a fair number of workers. Fitting and hu-ninjr rather slack at tho beginning o[ the month, but towards tho. end trade improved considerably, and there is every indication of further Vtterment. Moulding rather on the- quiet s : de on the larger lines, such as implement and machinery castings, but, in ik. "smaller sections and stock lines there has 00711 -i fair amount doing. Range and, grate-uuKing— No alteration since 'ast month: no:, n-.uch expected until cobt.igc-oui'd'uj- is resum.'d in the spring. Leather trades: Bootmaking (factories)' busy; all hands have made full timo during the past month. Bootmaking (repair shops) all very busy with as much work on hand as can be conveniently undertaken. Saddlery and harnessmakig—A fair amount of repair work coming in, which, together with orders for new harness, has kept all hands on full time. Clothing trades: Dressmaking and millinery on tho slack side: some of tho rooms arc working only liaJf-timo. Tailoring slacker than usual; operatives in some instances have- hid to take, timo off. Retail trades: ClothingSales of winter clothing and waterproofs have lieooii fairly good, but thero is a marked tendency on tho part of the public .to purchaso only absolute necessaries. Boots —Sales reported very good, especially for heavy wonr and gums. Drapery—There is no appreciable differenoe in this line since last month-, •. further than that buyers are more ca-itious. Groceries-Shortage of ready money is being folt by. consumers, who aro purchasing only actual necessaries. Printing trades: Bookbinding fair; all hands kept going. Printing—Thero has been -a fair average amount of work coming to hand, and there have been no complaints on »ho score of want of employment. ■Meat freezing, etc.; Tanning, currying, and -fellmongering—All hands working full time. (Slaughtering, freezing, and preserving—Stock continues to como in freely, and the killing boards have been kept going fairly well; there are indications that the season will be shorter than' usual, 'but- at tho present time everything is going on steadily. ' Coachbuilding: Blacksmttbing—All hands have been kept going steadily. Body-building rather slacker than usual in general work, but motor-body building shows no sign of diminishing, aw; is now recognised as a feature of the coaehbuildipg industry in this district.. Painters and trimmers—All men 'busy, principally on motor work. Cyelo and motor trades: The cycle section has been rather quiet in both'repairs and sales. On the motor side business has been very fair all round. Agricultural operations: All work is practically, at a standstill; ploughing is being carried on in some of tho higher kuid, but at the best it is an unsatisfactory job, a 6 tho country everywhere is in a very sodden condition, and little can lie done in the way of tillage. Miscellaneous : Tinstuithing is on the dull side, but is expected to pick up soon. Blacksmithing— Good steady business being done; all hands fully employed; there has been some demand from country towns for good men. French-polishing—All hands fully employed. Unskilled labour: There are very fow builders' labourers idle, and really good men seem to have very little difficulty in finding employment. There has been a good demand for general labourers for sewerago and water works, but on account of weather conditions only, very poor time has been made. At- present there docs not ecem much prospect of the weather, changing, and work has to bo,carried out. undermost disagreeable conditions. It would bo a mistake" for unskilled labourers to come here in the hope of finding employment. Tho following deals with women's employment in Dunedin;—During the period the following applications have been received from employers and workers—vk, 72 from the' former and 29 from the latter. Twentysix of the applicants for work were placed In suitable employment, two being married and 24 Single women. In addition to the number 'placed three persons applied who had, previously assisted and were again found work—viz.. one housemaid: one goneral, and one charwoman.