THE LABOUR MARKET.

Otago Witness, Issue 1581, 11 March 1882, Page 15

THE LABOUR MARKET.

Mr SkkNU reports for tho week ending Bth March '.—

It is a pleasant thing to state that the labour markt is in a most satisfactory stare, but it is also aa unsatisfactory to find that employed are proportionately > hard to deal with. At the present moment men can get 8s and 9s (work for months or years). Though men and women aro plentiful, a great majority are '{ weeds, and declined, and it is utterly impoji sible to pleaso them with wages, and when offered good money they reject it with scant civility ; but the winter is approaching, whon the tune will be changed, and the unemployed will bo civil and thankful for small mercies. A great many, employers have withdrawn their orders until servants come to their senses, and become more respectful and civil. Hotel people are in good demand, but trained Innds cannot be got. Wages cannot be quoted, the difference between both sides is so different.

Grant and M'Nkili. report for the week ending Bth March :— Current rates of wages : Good men for railroad and bush work, 7s, 89, and 9s ; draymen, 8s blacksmiths, 10s; masons, bricklayers/plasterers, 10b 12s ; carpenters, 8s to 10s per day ; couples. £65 to £76 ; shephords, gardeners, £60 ; ploughmen, £52 to £35 per annum ; general hands, farms, stations, 20s; station blacksmiths, 30s ; cooks, 26s to 30s ; grooms, 20s ; milkers, 20s ; boye, 10s per week and found ; Hotel men— barmen, 26a to 40s ; waiters, boots, &c, 20s to 258 ; cooks, 26s to 60s per week ; female cooks 20s to 60s; waitresses, housemaids, laund\e acs, general sorvants, 12s to 15b ; nwrsogiris, 5s to 10s per wook ; dairymaids, useful girlß for the country, £38 to £45 ; governesses and housekeepers, £45 to £60,