THE LABOUR MARKET.

Otago Witness, Issue 1575, 21 January 1882, Page 15

THE LABOUR MARKET.

Mr Skbkb reports for the week ending 18th January :—: — " ;■ • , Work is now plentiful, and there is no fear, of any man being out of a job. Men are needed for railways both north and south in New Zealand, and contractors offer good wages ; ,but not a man will deign to look at them. The harvest fever ia getting up to high pressure, arid men will not listen to reason, while it lasts. Prospects are good; for coalminers on the West Coast, but they aro stiff-necked and terribly hard to convince, even for their good. Green cropping is getting more attention than hitherto ; without it farmers need not look for success in fat stock and in export. It is pitiful to BRe the number of mon who are " whipping the cat " after the holidays— money all gone, health spoiled, and hungry— in truth, they spend their money like madmen. Such men are a pest and a nuisance to all around them. Couples (childleßS) ia still the cry. Employers should blush making such au unnatural demand. All are busy on farms, stations, bush, and dairies. Tradesmen are working full time. Females are a shade more plentiful. Hotels are , having a < lull after the storm. Wages: Day labour, 7s to 8s; farm lads, 15s, 18s, and 20s; farm men, 20s to 25s (harvest not quoted yet) ; couples, £65 to £80 ; shepherds, £60 and '£65 ; musterers, 40s to 60s ; classers, 20s per , 1000 ; cooks and bakers, 30s to 40s ; milkers, 10s, 12s, 15s, and 20s ; hotel men, cooIib", waiters, ,boots, 20s, 30s, 40s, and 60s ; do females, housekeepers, cooks, ' barmaids, housemaids, 16s, 20s, and 303 ; girls for town and country, 10s, 12s, and 15s ; boys and nursegirls, 5s to 10s ; carpenters, 8s to 10s ; station do. and bheksmiths, 30s to 40s; storemen, shopmen, and clerks, £1 103 to £3 per week. Mr P. M. Grant reports: -Current rates of wages —Day labour, 6s, 8s ; blacksmiths, 10s ; carpenters, Bs, 103 ; bricklayers, 10s ; masons, 12s ; plasterers, 12s ; bushmen, 8s per day, ; grooms, 20s ; cooks, stations, farms, 253, 30s ; general hands, farms, 15s, 20s ; milkers, 20s, 255 ; boys, ss, 10s; waiter-*, 15s, 258 ; barmen, 255, 40s ; boots, 103, 20i ; blacksmiths, 255, 403 ; harvest men, 255 ; engine-drivew, 40s, 60s por week ; couples, £60 to £75 ; plourhmen, £52 to £55; shepherds, £60 ; gardoners, £60. For fomale servants tho denund is far in excess of the supply, and wages firm, especially for girls foi tho country. Cooks, 15s, 40s ; barmaids, 15s, 303 ; housomaids, waitresses, kitchenmaids, general servants (town), 12s, 15s ; nursegirls, ss, 10s per week ; dairymaids, general servants, farms, stations, £30s to £40; governesses, £40 t0, £50 per annum.