TRADE AND LABOUR

Southland Times, Issue 17470, 26 March 1915, Page 2

TRADE AND LABOUR

LOCAL conditions: Following is tlie official report of tlie Department upon the stale of trade ami labour in Invercargill;— During tlie period under review business lias boon quieter than is usual at this time of tlie year but taking everything into consideration trade lias kept up remarkably well in this district. Retail trades have been doing a very fair business, hut several shopkeepers complain of the scarcity of ready money ; several firms are. however, carrying on a strictly cash business only, and appear to he doing very well. Building Trades, —Bricklaying is very quiet at present, but fair-sized brick contracts have been started, and should absorb most of tlie local men who are at present unemployed. Carpentry and joinery were very quiet at Die beginning of Die month, but are rather better now: there arc only throe or four men idle. Painting is busy, and there is a small demand for good hands. Plastering is very quiet. Plumbing and gasfitting : Moderate business is being done, and trade is likely lo improve shortly. Woodworking Trades. —Cabinet making and upholstering show a considerable improvement since last month. Sash and door factories, sawmilling, and woodturning: Fair business is being done, but Diere is much room for improvement. Engineering Trades.— Pair business is still ruling in all branches except rangemaking. which is still rather quiet. Leather Trades. — Hootmaking (factories); Very busy; all hands fully employed. Boot making (repair simps) have been doing fail- business. Saddlery and harness-making: Trade has been rather quiet. Clothing Trades, —Dressmaking and millinery; Fair business is being done, and all are kept going, but little overtime lias been worked. Tailoring (order) is rather quieter than last month, hut most of Dio workrooms are employing their usual number of hands, and a little overtime lias been worked. Retail Trades. —Clothing, boots, drapery, and groceries; Business has been about normal generally, and most shopkeepers in the drapery line have been busy witli summer sales. Printing Trades. —Bookbinding and printing have been rather quiet, but in must cases sufficient work lias been found to keep' all bands employed. .Meat-freezing, etc.—Tanning, currying, fellniongering, and slaughtering, freezing and preserving: Works have now' been opened and a good deal of stock is living dealt with. (’oaclihuilding Trades.—Blacksniithing, and eoaeli and carriage building; Business lias been rather dull. Cycle and .Motor Trades are rather quieter than usual at tiiis lime oi. Hie year, lint there lias hern a fair amount of repair work done. Agricultural Operations.—Farming, dairy, etc.—Tlie dairying industry has been good; the country is looking well, and there is every indication that there will be plenty of feed for stock during the corning winter. The grain crops are looking much better, but a good spell of fine weather is much needed to ripen the crops. Harvesting will be rather late. X T nskilled Labour. —There have not been many men idle during Die month; tho wool sales have given employment to a good number of men, while the freezing works have also absorbed many oflicrs.