TRADES AND INDUSTRIES.

Southland Times, Issue 14579, 21 November 1910, Page 6

TRADES AND INDUSTRIES.

INVERCARGILL CONDITIONS. Following is the report of the Labour Department's Journal on the state of trade in Invercargill in October There has been a noticeable increase In business during the month, more particularly in the clothing trades. Tho number of overtime permits issued has been greater than in any previous month throughout the year. Orders for holiday wear are beginning to come to hand, so that there should not bo any slack time for those engaged in clothing lines. Building is still very brisk. AVooden structures are being pushed on apace, but several large brick buildings arc - held up on account of the shortage of bricks. Stocks are being used up as fast as they come from the kilns. The brickmaking firms seem quite unable to keep up with the demand at present. On this account time has been lost by bricklayers, but carpenters and others have been kept fully employed. .Engineering and. implement-making have been busy. All the shops are fullhanded, and overtime has been necessary in some cases to complete orders ■ at due date. Bootinaking is. still very dull, ‘ and operatives have been forced to take other employment. Boot-re-pairers have been kept going .briskly, and sales show an improvement on last month. All woodworking factories' are busy,-with work still coming in. Coachbuilders are full up. with 1 orders, and find some difficulty in.keeping faith, with their customers. The demand: for unskilled labour has not improved, but the number of .’men calling in search of work does not show .any increase. Farm hands and .shepherds have been In request, apd great difficulty has been experienced in Ailing orders.. SawmlllIng is very brisk, and the demand for experienced men shows no sign of -falling off. Road contracts In "the country ehould absorb a fair number of labour- - ers fpr the next few months. Weather conditions have been favourable, and farmers have now completed grain sowing, and springing crops have a decidedly healthy appearance. Though the Bpting has been a little backward, stock and pastures are looking exceedingly ■well, and in dairying districts everything points to a successful year.