THE LABOUR MARKET.

Otago Witness, Issue 3021, 7 February 1912, Page 65

THE LABOUR MARKET.

The Labour Journal reports as follows on the condition of the labour market in Dunedin and Oamaru for the month ended December 31 j DUNE DIN. Notwithstanding the continued wet weather eiperienced, trade generally has been very good, and in many instances better than the previous year. In the building and outdoor trades a considerable amount of tiros has been lost owing to bad weather, which has caused a Blackness in the eash and door factories, consequently the spending power of the tradesmen has been lessoned. The engineering trad* is not as good as last month. Electrcial engineering is still very brisk. The furniture trades havo beer, very busy, and employer* have been making inquiries for more journeymen cabinetmakers and upholsterer*. The clothing trade has also been bu»y, and this is especially the case in connection with dressmaking- Order tailoring 'a reported as beijig very good, but would probably have been better had seasonable weather been experienced. However, trade should bo better after the holidays. Millinery has also suffered owing to the bad weather. The boot trade has experienced a busy month, and the same applies to bookbinding and printing trades. In the retail trades business his been very satisfactory—i e., in the grocery, jewellery, book, fancy-goods, and -boot trades—ana some shopkeepers report that a record amount of business has been done. In tbe drapery line trade is not eg good as it might have been, owing to the fact that little of the new season s goods have becu disposed of; but in spite of tin's reports go to show that in every instance the total takings for the month are quite up to, and in some instances better than, the corresponding period of last year, and general satisfaction is expressed at this result. Matters have been quint regarding the unskilled labour market. In the country there has been plenty of work at shearing, et&, and in the town not many men havo been unemployed . > • Farming and dairying good. Unskilled. Labour.—Not many men are applying for employment, and good work is ottering in the country districts, where shearing is still in operation; in the town a large number of men have been by the local bodies, and most laboured have been fairly well occupied. During the month 16 men havo been sent to private work, six of them being married (with 10 dependants) and 10 single men. OAMARU. The Christmas and Now Year trade has been generally satisfactory, and -future prospects are brighter than the district has experienced for the last five or six years. Not only is there a good milk supply, bus it is found to contain a larger percentage of Uttter-fat than usual Tho Christohurch Meat .Company will shortly commence tho erection of a freezing works here. It began operations for the season on 28th inst., and is looking forward to a busy time. Meat Freezing eta —Tanning, currying, and fellmoragering: Good prospects. Slaughtering, freezing, and preserving: Season just opening; prospects brijrht. Agricultural- Operations.—Farming, dairying, oto. : The chief interest just now is centred in the dairying branch, which is yielding more to tho farmer than for yeaoi back. Unbilled Labour. —There has been very littlo inquiry from able-bodied men for work during the month. Work is beeomi«uf more plentiful in this district, with the prorpect of a shortage of hands when thr heavy crops are be-ing harvested.