The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-09-27 00:00:00

TRADE AND LABOUR IN NEW SOUTH

WALES.

From the last half-yearly report of the state of trade
in tkis colony issued by the Trades and Labour Council
of New South Wales it appears that during the pre-
vious six months the labour market has been in a very
depressed condition ; great numbers of men, both
artisans and labourers, have travelled the country in
search of work, but without avail. When the Govern-
ment commenced building the International Exhibi-
tion at Sydney the services of 1,300 workmen were
easily obtained, hundreds being turned away.
The reports from trades affiliated to the Council
give the following particulars as to various trades in
the colony :-
Blackemiths.-About 400, of whom 370 are con-
stantly employed, but trade is dull, and were it not for
railway stock one half would be unemployed. In the
engineering branch nothing doing; future prospects
anything but cheering; wages from 9. to 12s. a day;
48 hours per week worked.
Boilermakers.-Out of 150 hands, 100 constantly em-
ployed; trade fluctuating, and prospects not good;
wages is. to is. 64. per hour; eight hours per day.
Bricklayers.-On account of the Exhibition build-
ing, all hands fully employed, but as soon as com-
pleted there will be slackness; number in the trade
about 600; wages is. to is. 6d. per hour; 46 hours in
summer, 45 in winter.
Carpenters and joiners.-From 1,700 to 2,000 hands
(with 100 Chinese), 1,000 in constant employment;
steady flow from the colonies; future prospects any-
thing but bright; is. 3d. per hour; 48 hours.
Coachmakers.-350 in the trade; about 70 per cent.
employed; a steady flow of immigrants into the trade;
10d. to is. 2d. per hour; eight per day.
Coopers,-75, and 40 employed; future prospects
very uncertain; 7s. to Bs. per day of 10 hours.
Ironmoulders,-120; constantly employed, 60; trade
fair; is. to is. 31 per hour; 48 per week.
Plasterers.-Between 400 and 500, only 150 fully
employed; trade dull; prospects not good; Us. per
day, but many work for less.
Seamen.-3,000, of which only 2,500 fully em-
ployed; trade dull; wages-coasting steamers, £7,
firemen £B, coal-trimmers £6, steam colliers £6; sail-
ing vessels £4 10a. to £5 per month; 10 hours per day
in harbour.
Shipwrights.-300 belonging to the trade, but
scarcely any employed but foremen; not more than
100 working; nothing to look forwnrd to; the majo-
rity working at other trades; lie, to 12s, per day of
eight hours.
Stonemasons.-From 500 to 600; from 200 to 300 in
constant work; trade very unsatisfactory; no works
of any magnitude; wages for good men lie,, but
range from 7s. to that earn, according to ability; 48
hours in summer, one less in winter,
Qoarrymen.-400 out of 500 constantly employed;
trade not so depressed for the last seven years; 7s. to
Bs. per day of eight hours.
Immigrants.-In 1878, at public cost, 5,190; at pri-
vate cost, 31,689 (including 2,4"i5 Chinese).
Total arrivals by sea, 39,879; departures by sea,
22,917 k:ncluding 1,560 Chinese) ; excess of arrivals
over departures, 16,962; excess of births over deaths,
14,569-total increase ot population last year, 31,531.
In December, 1877, the population of the colony was
662,212; in December, 1878, 693,743.
Carpenters are working as common labourers for 7s.
a day,
Prices of provisions-Beef, 34. to 4d. per lb, ;
mutton, 3i. to 4d.; butter, is, 6J. to 2s. 6d.; bread,
30. to 4-1, per loaf; pork, 6d. to 3d.; veal, 4d. to 6d.;
cheese, is. to is, 9d.; potatoes, is. for 14b.; onions,
31b. fur is,; tea, is, 6d, to 4s. per lb.; sugar, 4d. to
6d.; bacon, is. to is. 64. per lb.; cabbages, 24, to 6d.
each; milk, Bd. per quart; firewood, 180. to £1 per
ton; coal, 21 to 21 Es. per ton.
Railway fares-33. per mile; coach fares, 6d.
House-rent for noechanic,s-6s. to Bs. per room;
house of four rooms from 12e. to £1 per week, accord.
jug to locality.

CAPTAIN MARKHAM'S ARCTIC CRUISE.—A telegram
from Tromso, dated September 22nd, announces the
arrival there of the little Norwegian cutter Ys Bjorn,
with Sir Henry Gore Booth and Captain Markham,
after a satisfactory cruise. Tney met the first ice on
the 4th of June, at a distance of 40 miles from the
part of the Nova Zambia coast called Goose-land.
The Matochkin Shar was then impassable, ana they
therefore cruised along the west coast of Nova Zombie
until they were stopped'