LABOR JOURNAL

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2609, 17 September 1909, Page 2

LABOR JOURNAL

REPORT FOR AUGUST.

The following condiitons of employment and trade are reported in the “Labor Journal” for August:— Waipiro Bay:—Building trades brisk. Retail trades normal. Unskilled labor— There is no demand for workers at present. Gisborne.—Trade has shown a decided improvement towards the end of the month. The diminishing number of names on the unions’ employmentbooks indicates a return of full employment in the near future. The retail traders generally have done a fair amount of business, with a slight improvement towards the end of the month. All seem hopeful, and, although some complain of the difficulty of getting in money, it is quite evident that matters here are not nearly so bad as in some of the other towns of the Dominion. Building trades.—Bricklaying is practically at a standstill. Carpentry and joinery appears to be improving, as the union book shows only three men out of employment, as against nine last month. Painting is busy; there are no men out of employment. Plastering. The work in hand is nearly' fiui sJied and tho P ro !' JSct for the near futul? k not good. Plumbing and gasfitting dull, bur indications as to future business are favorable. Wood-working trades. — Cabinetmaking is fairly busy, but upholstery is reported dull. Sash and door factories , very dull. Sawmilling, not busy, but a fair amount of work is being done. Wood-turning, etc. very quiet. Engineering trades..—Agricultural-itti-plemcnt-making: A little repair is going on, but the season has been quiet; a fair amount of retail business is reported. Electrical engineering, very slack indeed. Fitting and turning, fair for this time of the year, hut not busy. Leather trades.)—Bookmaking (repair shops) fair, but not as busy as is usual for the time of the year, though slightly improved since last month. Saddlery and harness-making, dull, but expect improvement next month ; all hands employed. Clothing trades.—Dressmaking* and millinery both very busy; every indication of good season coming. Tailoring (order) very dull; worse than usual at this time of the year, but signs of improvement were evident iu the latter part of the month. Retail trades.—Clothing, fair -asiness is being done, -with a tendency to improve. Boots very dull. Drapery, business improved towards the end. of the month. Grocery—No change from last month, money reported to be very hard to get in. Printing trades. —Bookbinding and and printing, all hands fully employed. Meat-freezing, etc.—Tanning, currying. and fellmongering: The works are closed down for the season, but about sixty men are kept going repairing tho plant and preparing for the coming season, which will begin nr October. The past season has been a record one, fully doubling the output, and it is confidently expected tho coming season will also be good. Coachbuilding trades.—Blacksmithing improving ; all hands employed. Coach and carriage building: a great improvement in this business is shown, all hands being busy, and there is every indication that the coming reason. will be a busy one; one firm lias put on three extra carriage-painters during the month. Cycle and motor trades reported very dull, hut as the season advances, and the roads improve increased business will no doubt accure. Agricultural operations: Farming,, dairying, etc.; there is little to report re farming operations for the month, as it is the off-season. It is generally understood that the amount of bush-clearing done this season is much less than it was last season. No doubt the recent financial depression has been the cause. The winter has been remarkably fine and favorable for outdoor industries, and no doubt the coming season, will show good results. Brickmaking is practically at a standstill, but employers are confidently expecting a revival. Unskilled labor: the number of unemployed calling at the office is diminishing. Towards the end of the month very few men called, and very few inquiries were made tor men by employers. The Department has sent three married men to Government works and one married and seven single men to ->-ivate employment during the month. From. a “ appearances there is every likelihood of an early spring and a revival of country employment. Present indications point, to the “unemployed difficulty being over in a few weeks from date.