TRADE AND EMPLOYMENT.

Southland Times, Issue 14371, 18 March 1910, Page 7

TRADE AND EMPLOYMENT.

CONDITIONS IST PEBBUABT, Following is the repoi't of the Journal of the Department of Labour upon the condition of trade in Invercargill in the month of February:— ' ■ BUSINESS GENERALLY During the month has been of a steady nature. All the skilled trades have been kept busy, with very little slack time in any particular Industry. Harvesting operations are in full swing, consequently country people are not visiting the town as regularly as is their custom, but die absence of the customer has not prevented orders from coming to hand freely. Implement-makers have been kept hard at work repairing old machines and erecting new ones. In general engineering there has been a steady flow of work-of a miscellaneous description. The building trade is making a rapid recovery from tire slump of last year. Present indications point to an exceptionally brisk year in tire building line In Invercargill. Several large structures are already well in hand, and tenders are called for quite a number of others of more than usual dimensions. An inspection of the unemployed books kept by trades-unions reveals the fact that comparatively few tradesmen are signing on, which is a fair indication of the state of trade. The exceptionally dry spell' in the early part of the month has had an almost disastrous effect on the root-crops and grass. On many farms, there is scarcely a green blade to be seen, and turnips and rape, usually a luxurious crop in Southland, are this year dwarfed almost to the point of uselessness. A heavy rain fell on the 26th of the month, which should do an Immense amount of good to all growing crops. Operations at the freezing-works have been slightly retarded by a shortage of good lines of prime stock, and, Indeed, it was feared that, unless rain same in copious quantities ih sufficient time to start the grass growing, killing would be suspended for a time. However, with a continuance of favourable weather conditions, feed should start to grow, and sheep and lambs come forward In sufficient numbers and of prime quality. Owners of dairy herds in the drier districts have experienced considerable difficulty in providing their cows with water, and carting has had to be resorted to. Milk-supplies have fallen away considerably at all factories. A real dry season is an entirely new experience for Southland farmers, who at one time thought it quite impossible that they should ever suffer from a drought; but the experience of the present summer should disillusionise many on that score. The nedr approach of Easter has been the means of keeping clothing-manufacturers busy. Preparations for the holidays are already being made on a large scale, and the end of next month will see all enjo_ying the last vacation of the season to their utmost capacity. Building Trades: Bricklaying—Several good buildings on hand; all bricklayers fully employed. Carpentry and joinery —There is a fair amount of cottage work on hand, sufficient to keep carpenters In fairly full work; in many cases the joinery work is done on the job, thus giving employment to men used to this particular kind of work. Painting—ln the town work is not as plentiful as desired, but country work has kept tradesmen well employed. Plastering—None of the buildings on hand is sufficiently advanced for this work, but in a few weeks tradesmen should bo in full work. Plumbing and gasfltting—There is not much movement in these branches, but an Improvement is expected shortly, when some of the larger buildings are sufficiently advanced. Woodworking Trades: Boxmaking— There is a fair amount of this class of work being done, in anticipation of a good rabbit season. Agents are busy preparing crates before the season opens bn the 7th March. Cabinetmaking and upholstering—Cabinetmaking has been busy for February, which is usually looked upon as a quiet month, but this year the contrary has been the case, and good trade has been done. In consequence of. the demand for furniture, upholsterers have been busy throughout the month. Coopering—All men are busy on tallow casks. Sash and door factories Business continues very, steady in these lines; a fair amount of stock is being worked up in anticipation of a rush setting in for doors and frames during the winter, as buildings approach completion; present Indications point to a good year for manufacturers. Sawmilling—All mills are working full time; there has been some demand for bushmen, sawyers, and tramway, hands during the month; very few suitable men have applied, and mill-owners in many cases have had to make shift with the labour available.

Engineering Trades: Agricultural imple-ments—-Work has been confined chiefly to repairs and erecting new engines and combines. The early harvest has made ;t necessary for those dealing in threshing plants to push on with the work of srectlon as speedily as possible. Boilermaking—A fair amount of work has been put through during the month; sufficient to keep all hands fully employed. Fitting and turning—Both branches have been well employed. Repairs and new parts for old. machinery and the erection of new plants have been the general order. Moulding—Steady; sufficient work on hand to keep shops moving; more could be undertaken. Rangemaking—There has been a slight movement in this line consequent on a number of cottages nearing completion. Leather Trades: Bootmaking (factories) All operatives have made full time, with work still In sight. Bootmaking (repair shops)— Repairs continue to come to hand, and all employees are making full time. Saddlery and harnessmaking—There has been a slight lull in this trade; orders coming to hand are principally for draught harness: there are no saddlers out of work. Clothing Trades: Dressmaking and millinery—Contrary to expectations, there has not been such a falling-off as has been the rule during this month in previous years. Dressmakers have been fairly fully employed, and in some cases overtime had to be worked to keep up with orders on account of Easter falling so early in the year. Milliners are also experiencing an unusual briskness. Shirtmaking—Steady trade Is being done on heavy work for winter wear. Tailoring—There is little diminution in the amount of work coming forward, the early Easter again being the cause; master tailors report quite an unexpected briskness. Retail Trades: Clothing—Steady business being done; light clothing is still in demand. Boots —Rather quieter than usual, but, taken all through. the month’s trade has been satisfactory. Drapery—Mid-season sales have caused a slight increase in business generally, and genera! drapers are satisfied with their takings. Groceries —Little alteration to report; there has been a very steady trade in all lines. Printing Trades: Bookbinding—Trade fair; enough to keep all hands in full employment. General printing work has been fairly plentiful; there are not any Idle compositors registering their names. Meat-freezing, etc.: Fellmongerlng in full swing at the factories; good time being made; private firms have made excellent use of the dry weather to get their scoured wool dry and baled ready for export; the high prices ruling for wool in the'grease has induced those in the trade to resell rather than scour; In some cases only the poorer classes and locks and pieces have been put through the scouring process. Slaughtering and freezing and preserving—Slaughtering has commenced at till works, but sheep are not coming forward in large numbers; killing-boards are not yet full, but in the course of a week or two it is expected that all factories will be working up to their utmost capacity. Stock is coming forward freely to the preserving works, which are in full swing. Coachbuilding Trades; Blackamithing —All bands busy; trade continues good. Body-building busy; all places working full lime, with sufficient work on hand to keep employees going on full time for some weeks; this trade has been exceptionally busy for .some months now. Motor-car work continues to come in, and may now be looked upon as a permanent line with coach builders. Cycle and Motor Trades: Sales reported good, and repair-work plentiful. The motor trade shows signs of rapid development in this district, on account ot several services having been established In districts previously served by the oldtime coach.

Farming ami Dairying: Farmers are confining their attention principally to securing their crops. Reaping is well In hand now. and leading-in and threshing from stook and stack is general in many districts; already some new season’s grain is reported as having changed hands; the season' has been a remarkably early one for Southland, and farmers should experience little difficulty

in securing their crops in prime condition. Dairying operations have received a check on account of the extremely dry season; milk-supplies have fallen off very rapidly at all factories; dairyfarmers have been at their wits’ end to provide water for their herds, and in some of the drier districts it has been necessary to cart water for miles; creeks and water-races are dry in all directions, and some of the large rivers are -little more than a succession of pools and streamlets. Turnips and rape are suffering badly from the drought, and farmers will be faced with the necessity of looking elsewhere for winter feed for -their stack.j.t ... .

■Miscellaneous: Flax-milling—>All mills a-re busy; several new ones have made a start in the district, thus creating work for a fair number of men and youths. Brick and tile making—The brickyards are particularly active: orders for brick and drain-pipes are coming to hand freely: there is a prospect of a busy season in the brick-making trade on account of the number of large building contracts to be put in hand during the next few weeks. Tinsmith ing— Busy on general work; the demand for dairy utensils for present season’s use has fallen off slightly: manufacturers of this class of goods are preparing stock in anticipation of a rush next season. French-polishers—There is a fair amount of work being done in this trade; where labour is employed, all hands are making full time. Unskilled Labour: The demand for farm labourers and harvest hands has been very keen during the month, and any roan with the least experience readily found employment. Fifteen men were assisted to private employment, and two bushmen were pent to Government works during the month.