AMERICAN TRADE CONDITIONS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 89, 14 April 1923, Page 11

AMERICAN TRADE CONDITIONS.

MANUFACTURERS BUST. SHORTAGE OF SKILLED LABOUR The position of the manufacturing industries in the United States at the present time is a peculiar one, according to a report dated February 17 from Messrs. Mailler and Quereau of New York: "It is surprising the great volume of business that is being transacted, so that manufacturers of all kinds of goods are running to full capacity, many of them overtime, and still unable to fill the orders that are' offering. For certain lines of goods large premiums are being offered for early delivery, and even with this inducement manufacturers are unable to accept what is offered to them. The business development throughout tlie United States during the past six months has been remarkable, and where there was doubt and hesitancy in many directions, everything is now so promising that all parties are confident of a big and growing business for this year and ready to venture on all kinds of undertakings. The domestic demand for goods is constantly on the increase. The higher cost does not seem to prevent purchases and all classes of merchandise are in active demand, both for prompt and for future delivery. This unfortunately means increased cost of finished products and higher cost to the consumer, who always has to pay it in the end. Raw materials are being purchased as rapidly as they are produced, and in Borne lines, such as pig iron and lumber, production is not nearly sufficient to meet the demand. Labour conditions are very unfavourable, for wijh the limited amount of skilled labour throughout the country, the labour .unions are taking advantage of the position and either calling strikes or demanding greatly increased wages. In the building trades the minimum wage at present is 10 dollars a day, but the demand has been so great that in, many instances double this wage has been paid, while for certain lines, Bucfi as plastering and bricklaying, some of the union men are asking* at high as 25 dollars to 30 dollars per day. It is impossible for manufacturers and builders to meet the increased wages and increased cost, and undoubtedly the effect of these extreme demands will be felt in an unfavourable way in the near future. Meanwhile, oi|r Government shows no disposition to modify the immigration laws in making it possible to secure a larger volume of skilled labour. The political influence of the labour vote is so great that all the parties hesitate to challenge it and change our laws to make them, most reasonable and equitable.

John Duwn, Son and Co., of New York, writing under date of March Sth, states that the Ships Subsidy Bill has been laid aside by Congress, and may never be taken up again, in fact, it is rumpured that a plan is now under consideration to dispose of the entire Shipping Board fleet to a combination of the large, shipping interests here, thus closing out the Government's interest into private hands.

The report further states that for the eleven months to December 1, 1922, the value/ of imports was 2821 million dollars, against 2272 million dollars during tbe same period in 1921. ■ Imports of gold last month were again heavy at 32,818,000 dollars, but the outflow' was also important, so that the net import balance was only 24,346,000 dollars. Ttie continued ad-' vance in sterling exchange is attracting attention to the possibility of a return- of some of this to London at no very distant time. '