THE LABOR MARKET.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2064, 31 March 1909, Page 6

THE LABOR MARKET.

EXISTING LOCAL CONDITIONS

Tb** lycal labor market is fairly quiet. Tiiere are a considerable number of men registered ovit of employment, but it is understood that it is -recent, arrivals to the district who are the sufferers in this direction, and not- the local men. 'Speaking to a “Times” reporter yesterday, Mr. D. Carmody, Inspector of Factories, said that during March there had been fifty-two callers at his office seeking work, and out of that number eighteen had been placed in private employment, and six sent to Government works. The building trade is at present suffering rather acutely, and there are thirteen carpenters -,at present registered on the books as out of work. There are at present, however, a few large buildings being, erected, at which the contractors are not quite ready for carpenters, and it is hoped that in a short time these unemployed men will be able to he placed. Painters appear to he in a much better position, only one tradesman being registered as out of employmentThe bricklaying trade is fairly brisk, and with the -number of new buildings which are to he erected there would appear to he a fairly good prospect, of work for local men during the coming winter.The stagnation in the building trade 'existing at‘present is a thing unheard of in Gisborne for a very considerable, period, and Mr, Carmody states . that, it is'only since October last -thatfit,'has been found 'necessary to enforce the preference to unionists clause in the -carpenters’ award, as prior to that date there was always ample work to absorb the local supply of men. - At present there are about' a dozen callers at the local labor office seeking unskilled labor. There arc also a; few callers, mostly new arrivals from Home, looking for farm work, and there are also some anxious to go on. to either farm or station, with the object ,of acquiring experience prior to taking up land for • themselves. '