DISMISSALS BY FIRM

Press, Volume C, Issue 29634, 3 October 1961, Page 14

DISMISSALS BY FIRM

Steelworkers In Auckland

(N.Z. Press Association) AUCKLAND, Oct. 2. Forty-eight men have been dismissed out of the staff of 250 of the Fletcher Steel and Engineering Companies, Ltd. The’ men had been paid 4B hours’ wages on Friday in lieu of notice to help them ■ find alternative employment, said the managing director, Mr L. C. Ryan, this evening. Falling-off in available work was the reason for the dismissals, said Mr Ryan. Among the men put off were ’ boiler-makers, welders, and 1 labourers. Steel - fabricating firms were sensitive to conditions in the building and construction industry. A slowing down of building activity had an immediate effect on the demand for steelwork, ■ said Mr Ryan. ' Until recently, the build- ’ ing and construction indus- ’ try had experienced buoyant trading conditions. The de- J mand for structural steelwork had been strong, and ( the companies’ works had , been geared accordingly. “It was inevitable that ( steps taken by the Govern- ] ment, directly and indirectly, , to curb building and construction work, and to restrict the importation of steel, would make a reduc- , tion of the capacity of our , labour force necessary,” Mr Ryan said. The president of the Boilermakers’ Union, Mr F. Harris, said today that it was the first bulk dismissal of structural steelworkers he had known in the last 10 I years. U.S. Missiles.—The United I States was due to have 54 i intercontinental ballistic missiles operational in the next i three months, officials said j last night.—Washington, Sept, i 29.