LABOR REPORT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2635, 18 October 1909, Page 3

LABOR REPORT.

MONTH OF SEPTEMBER,

The following is the labor report for the Gisborne district for September :

As was expected last month’s trade has improved generally during the period, but in many lines business is not up to normal for the time of year. Many of the country roads are in a bad state which has prevented settlers from coming into town and doing business. The building trade shows very little improvement, and most of the work is being done in the outskirts of the town. Building trades : Bricklaying—Very little doing, but it is understood that several jobs are likely to como out shortly. Carpentry and joinery—The same number oI J men are on the employment book as last month (three), and there is very little apparent change in this trade. Painting is still lnsy; no men are out of employment. Plastoring is practically at a standstill. Plumbing and gasfitting—Trade is still dull, hut there are very few men out of employment. Woodworking trades: Cabmetniakiiig fairly busy, but there is still room for improvement. Upholstering is still very dull. Sash and door factories dull, and will probably be so until the builcling trade improves. Sawmilling not busy; a large amount of timber is' being imported pending the opening-up of bush country by railway. Woodturning, etc., is very *niiet, and has been so for some time. There seems to be no visible sign of improvement. Engineering trades g -Agricultural-im-plement-making trades fairly busy in re-pair-work, but not much doing m manuiateturing., Boilermaking very dull, and no immediate prospect of improvement. Electrical .engineering—Very little doing, but, if the proposed municipal power-scheme plant is startted this trade should improve very muhh: Fitting and turning fairly good; all hands employed. Iron and brass moulding.—Aery little doing. Re-pair-shops busy, but only enough work to keep local hands going, baddlery and harnessinaking- —Trade is improving, but is not up to its usual standard at this time of the year. C.othing trades: Dressmaking and millinery—Considerable improvement is shown in this trade, overtime having been worked in some of the shops. Tailoring- (order)—Trade has improved appreciably during the month, but there is only just- sufficient work to keep hands employed. Retail trades: Clothing fairly busy, but not up to the usual standard for the time of year. Boots—-Trade is dull, and retailers complain of the difficulty of getting in. cash. Drapery—Good business is reported, and there is every prospect of improvement as the season advances. Groceries still dull, and complaints are made of the scar* city of ready money. Printing trade: Bookbinding—trade is fairly good in both branches, and the few hands employed are kept going constantly. Coachbuilding trades: Blacksmitlmig very busy, and prospects of a good season are apparent. Coach and carriage building very busy, hut especially in the smithing and painting branches. Cycle and motor , trades dull owing to the bad state of the roads. Agricultural operations: Farming, dairying, etc.: The dairying season has opened well, and a splendid season ,is looked for. Ploughing is in full swing, feed is reported to he extremely plentiful, and stock in good condition. Unskilled labor: There was an increase of applicants for employment at the beginning of the month —no doubt owing to the bad weather cheeking out-door employment—but towards the end, with the return of fine weather, applications have become less numerous, and the demand for men greater. There are, however, stil, a considerable number of names oil tlm “unemployed” list —: mostly young single men who have recently come into the district with the hope - of getting work on the railway. The meatworks and the shearing will be starting again in a few.weeks, and there is no need to fear scarcity of employment for the lajboring-class in the near future.