RAW MATERIALS FOR MANUFACTURE

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 256, 27 July 1939, Page 8

RAW MATERIALS FOR MANUFACTURE

Higher Import Licences Granted MANY FIRMS WORKING OVERTIME Dominion Special Service. AUCKLAND, July 26. From statements by manufacturers, it is clear that many have been granted licences to import raw materials well in excess of quantities imported in the corresponding period last year. In some industries there has been considerable development of business and scarcities of skilled labour have made necessary the working of much overtime. Indeed in several Auckland factories subject to the 40-hour week, staffs have been employed on Saturday mornings at overtime rates. Applications for raw material licences that represent an excess are now invariably referred to the Department of Industries and Commerce by the Customs Department for investigation. The former department now has an augmented staff of accountants, several being on loan from another State department, and the procedure on an investigation is generally to see whether increased quantities of raw materials are justified by an expansion of business represented by increased sales of manufactures and of orders received. \

In one industry orders for delivery before Christmas have actually been refused by some firms because of inability to handle business. Footwear, tannery, leather goods, clothing, condiment and several other industries are described as particularly busy. Defence orders have complicated deliveries to the general trade in some instances.