LABOR REPORT.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 13602, 6 February 1915, Page 6

LABOR REPORT.

Tho following is the Labor Department's report lor January : — The condition of trade and labor, with the exception of the building trade, may bo said to have resumed the normal state. There has been verylittle difficulty recently in finding employment for unskilled labor, out a number of hands in the "building trade are stiil unemployed. Building trades : 'Bricklaying, carpentery and joinery, painting, plumbing, and gasfitting aiiu plastering are still slack, a number ot Hands being out of employment. There are signs of improvement in the near future, however, as tenders are being ,-called for several new buildings. Woodworking trades : Cabiuetmaking and upholstering are still keeping faiMy busy, although no hands have oeen inquired for during the month. Sash and uoor factories, sawmilhni:, and wouilturning are fairly busy, and all hands aie iuhy employed. Engineering trades : Agricultural implement repairs, electrical engineering, fitting and turning and iron and brass moulding trades ne about normal, and there are uu iult hands. Leather trades : Bootmaking (repair shops) and saddlery and harnessmaking trades are somewhat dull, but slightly improved since last report. Clothing trades : Dressmaking ami jnillinerv have somewhat slackened off since last report, and very little overtime has been worked in any of the factories. Tailoring (order) : Trade is somewhat slack, "as is usual at this time of year. Retail trades : Clothing, boots and drapery are still very dull. Groceries : Trade is still dull, but has improved towards the end of the month. Printing trades r Bookbinding and printing aro keeping steady, and all hands are fully em : ployed. Meat freezing, etc. : Tanning, currying, fellmongering, slaughtering. freezing and preserving are working at their highest capacity. The scarcity of! foed still conUnues, and the result is a rush of stocK to the freezing works. Coachbuilding trades : Blacksmithing and coach and carriage-building aro still improving, and may now be said to be about s normal. Cycle and motor trades are fairly busy, and the season bids fair to be a good one for these industries. Agricultural operations — farming, dairying, etc. : Very few inquiries have been received for farm hands, although work, in the country districts is- fairly pleiiti ful. Inquiries have been received for a few fencers. Tho weather continues to bo exceptionally dry, consequently the dairying season will close earlier this year than usual. Shearing is anoroadimg completion, as the dry season has favored an early finish. Unskilled labor : There havo been 26 applications for employment during tho month, and of these 17 men -have been sent to Government works and one to private employment. Tn addition to those IS-'fnon have been forwarded from southern districts through this office to road work at Motu.