Orders Diverted Because Of Strike

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31097, 28 June 1966, Page 1

Orders Diverted Because Of Strike

Auckland manufacturers are diverting orders for materials from Britain to Australia because of the British seamen’s strike, the Press Association reports.

Very few orders placed in Britain have been cancelled, according to a questionnaire sent out by the Auckland Manufacturers’ Association.

But firms are looking to Australia, Japan and the United States as alternative sources of supplies. Mr J. Whatnall, secretary of the association, said yesterday that Australia seemed to be getting the bulk of the| diverted orders and there I could be difficulties obtaining; Tasman shipping. He had heard that 400 tons, of New Zealand cargo was! left on the wharf at Sydney; last week because of a lack of shipping space. Not Worried Yet Some Auckland manufactur-! ers could face shortages of materials in two or three' weeks. However, only a small percentage of the manufacturers; who replied to the question-; naire expressed concern. About 38 considered they] could be in a serious position I in three to four weeks, and!

the remainder said they had sufficient materials to maintain production for six to eight weeks. The main shortages were expected to be electrical goods, some types of steel, acids, plastic powders and plastic sheeting, some textiles and general spare parts. Magazines Affected The supply of English magazines and periodicals to New Zealand is being affected by the strike. Novels and textbooks have not been affected yet, but if the strike is not settled soon there could be bare spaces on bookshelves later in the year. The supply of magazines was becoming spasmodic, said the manager of one large Dunedin shop.

Many textbooks for university and secondary schools are printed in the United States. Australia or New Zealand and there should be no shortage of them. British textbooks could be

ordered in November and still arrive in time for the academic year. The strike has already had a marked effect on the delivery of vitally-needed equipment, particularly spares, to the major contract in the Manapouri power scheme, the £l5 million underground powerhouse at West Arm. Materials and equipment worth between £150,000 and £200,000 are awaiting shipment from Britain or are almost due for shipment. The contractor, the Utah Construction and Mining Company, has had to air freight essential spare parts to New Zealand at a cost of about £1 per lb. Similar steps have been taken by Utah-Williamson-Burnett, the contractor for the tailrace tunnel at Deep Cove. The cost of freight on one shipment was £575. Much of the gear awaited by the Utah Company is aboard strike-bound British ships. If the strike continues much longer, more equipment will have to be air freighted.