LABOUR REPORT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11717, 6 June 1916, Page 5

LABOUR REPORT.

The following report has been Issued 137 the Labour Department for the month of May: The peneral condition of traoo snows , e failing off in several lines—agricultural implements, furniture and general engineering particularly, Tbo building and allied trades (show a slight improvement only, while brass and copper-smiiliinsr is feeling tho difficulty of setting supplies. The retail trades report that the volumo is satisfactory and quite up to normal, and while business is good tho shortage of labour is being felt in all branches. Building Trades.—Bricklaying is fairly pood, all hands beinc employed. Bricklayers' labourers are scarce. Carpentry and Jcinery: Reported aa improved on last month, and is now good. Painting: Trade ia gcod. Plastering.—Very eood, and first-class hands are unobtainable. Plumbing and gasfitting: Has improved on last month's "report. and is fairly good. Stonemasonry: Reported the same as last month. Woodworking Trades.—Bosmaking: Trade is still busy. Hands wanted. Cabinetmaking and upholsterins is normal for this month; all hands are kept going. Coopering: Very busy; all honds finding plenty of ■work. Sash and door factories: Report trade to be fair; all hands being kept going. An improvement on last month; business being normal. Wood-ißm-inpr, eto.: Reported as keeping fairly busy. Engineering Trades. Agricultural-imple-ment making is reported as being exceptionally bad. worse than for some months past. Boilermaking: Slower than last month, but still very fair. Brass and coppersmithing: Very busy, overtime being: worked, but copper and brass supplies are difficult to procure. Electrical engineering: Very good, and additional men can be placed. Fitting and turning: Very busy, and suitable men can be placed for braes finishing. Iron and brass moulding show's r. slight improvement for the month. Rangemaking has improved this month, and stove workers „are busy. a—Leather Trades. —Bootmaking (factories): Very busy hands are being sought and overtime is being worked. Eoofmaking (repair shops): Very busy. Saddlery eni harness making: A number of men have Win thrown out of employment temporarily on account of shortage of material. Clothing Trades.—Dressmaking is reported to be busy, while millinery is to be moderately good. Shirt-makiif& is very'busy," and hands are reqn : r.ed to meet trade requirements. Tailoring (factories): Very busy indeed; working overtime, and hands needed. Tailoring (order): Except in the larger shops trade is reported as very dull. Woollen-milling: Still very busy, working to full capacity. Retail Trades.—Clothing: Trade is good, tho business turnover being regarded as sat. isfactory. Boots: A very much better month's trade is reported. Drapery: Trade is good and returns still keep up satisfactorily. Groceries: Trade is coed, quite up to normal requirements. - c Printing Trades. —Bookbinding: Somewhat slower than last month, but equal to the

.ormal turn'vcr for May month. Printing: 'Jobbing work is only fair, but hands are kept 'employed. N \ Meat-freezing, etc. —Tanning, currying and fcllinonßerine are reported as busy. Slaughtering. freezing and preserving are feeling the shortage of shipping, but are still working full time. Coachbuilding Trades.—Blaoksmitliing is slow, very little new work coming to hand; repairs are. moderate. Coachbuilding is very slow. Motor body building is moderate. Repairs are moderate, and tram-car building is slow. y Cycle and Motor Trades.—New sales are only fair, but repairs are good. Agricultural Operations.—Farming, dairying, etc.: The Remand for country work is pi actically nil.' Miscellaneous.—Brushmaking is still very busy. Confectionery is very busy and working overtime, and more would be worked if sugar supplies were better. Biscuit makers are very busy. Tinsmithing is normal. Unskilled Labour.—ln general labouring there is considerable sleekness. There is no demand for country labour, but builders' labourers are fully employed. During the month twelve married and twelve single men, with forty-two dependents, have been placed, thirteen in private", and eleven in Government employment.

During the month the following applications were received from employers:—Domes, tics SO. cooks and cook-generals 38. house and house-parlourmaids 28, waitresses 3. laundresses 2, ladyhelps 3, kitchen and pantrymaids 4, housekeeper 1, nurses 2, married couples 2, miscellaneous 2, charwomen 8; total. 123. For the same period applications* from employees were: —Domestics 9, cooks >and cookgenerals 3, house and house-parlourmaids 3, nurse 1, nuioery-g&vemcss 1, charwomen 6; total, 23. Twenty of these were found suitable employment, one of whom oame from the Korih Island, eighteen from the South and one from Great Britain. The mes'ic ouestion is becoming a biggti.- Pr blem than ever, for not only aro good and well trained girls difficult to procure. but many people are no longer able to pay the high wages demanded by experienced domestics. "Whrre there aro young children maids are a necessity, and the only way seems for mistresses to try and procure 6mart young tripls. train them, gradually ihcreasing their wagps, until they become pioficient. _ _ * Many good positions are offering in the country, but it is almost impossible to fill any of those, as girls will not leave the city during the winter months.