Further Fall In Chch Factory Overtime

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31502, 17 October 1967, Page 1

Further Fall In Chch Factory Overtime

There was a further drop last month in the number of Christchurch factories working overtime.

Only 75 of the 150 member companies of the Canterbury Manufacturers* Association were on overtime compared with 90 in August, the actingpresident (Mr J. D. Bull) told last night’s meeting of the association’s council. Factory shifts were working just on 43 hours a week. The number of dismissals and resignations for the month were steady, but there had been a marked drop in the number of positions filled.

The number of vacancies had also 'alien. For the month there had been a net loss of 75 workers in the 150

companies surveyed. This was 50 per cent higher than August. The vacancies reported are all in the manufacturing sectors. Mr Bull said the stock position for imported materials and components was satisfactory although there were major fluctuations between companies. Similar fluctuations were seen in the sales and forward orders positions, although the overall situation was similar to August Sales were 21 per cent down on August, 1966, and forward orders down 7 per cent.