THE LABOUR MARKET.

Timaru Herald, Volume CI, Issue 15393, 9 July 1914, Page 2

THE LABOUR MARKET.

FOR JUNE. The report of Sir Light-foot, of the Labour Department, Timaru, for tho month of June, on the state of the labour 'market, says that during tiie past month, trade in this district has been very : quiet—quieter than for some years. The building trades arc still very slack, and a- number of men in all branches have' been out of employment. Retail trades have been doing a fair average, business for this time of year. Bricklaying is still very quiet-, and several men are, idle. Carpentry and joinery arc also very quiet, and several men have been out of employment although there are very few names on Ihe Union's employment book. Painting is rather quiet, although one or two firms are still keeping fairly busy. Plastering is dull. Plumbing and gasfitting are quiet, but mo'st firms are able to keep on their usual staffs. In the cabinet-making and upholstering trades, fair businp-ss is being done, and all hands arc fully employed. Rawmilling and woodturning are very quiet. The engineering trades are still quiet, but show a little improvement on the previous month. Leather trader are quiet, but no hands are reported idle. Very good business is lining done in the tailoring trade, and also in the woollen-milling business. All hands are fully employed, and a. considerable amount of overtime, has been worked. In the retail trades, clothing,, boots, and drapery, are still rather dull, but the principal shops are busy either with stock-taking, or with winter sales The freezing works have had a very good season, but they are now beginning to shorten hand:-'. The eyclo and motor trades are very quiet indeed, and there lias been very little, business except in repair work. Practically all the. threshing mills have pulled in. although there- is still a good number of chaft'eutting and clover-shelling machines at work. Flour milling is keeping steady, and all hands are fully employed. AVork at the whari and in the "rain stores has been fairly brisk, but there has been a cnsiderab!.. .siirpln« of labour offering. There is little or no demand for navvies at ihe present