THE COLONIST ON LONDON BRIDGE." TO THE EDITOR.

Evening Post, Volume LXX, Issue 37, 12 August 1905, Page 15

THE COLONIST ON LONDON BRIDGE." TO THE EDITOR.

Sir, — Under the above heading there appeared iiuyour issue of 29th April a letter from "Our own Correspondent," 'dated London, 25th. March, , some remark? attributed to Mr. D. J. Nathan, referring to the antiquated methods in practice in the manufacturing districts of Britain compared with the United States, particularly as, regards ironwork, and especially nails. .In the course of these remarks, it was stated — "In America, a nailer will made £6 per week in his nail mill, by turning out 2fa tons a week, while the Dudley nailer, earning 15s a week, works' on his old method, and only produces -two hundredweight." ' < The above statement seemed so extraordinary that I took the trouble to refer to a well-known firm of ironrilasters in Staffordshire, and I am to-day in receipt of their reply as follows :— "The trade in handSmade nailn is now virtually*' mori.* bund, the. old slow process being superseded by machinery, with an increased daily output, but as far as we can .estimate, the wage paid to machine nailers would be in the neighbourhood of 40s per week." It would appear, therefore, that nails are made chiefly by_ machinery in Great Britain, as well as in America, and it is more than probable that a considerable deduction may be made from .the alleged earning of £6 per week in the United States. It would be very interesting to have an opportunity of observing the result of any attempt by Mr. Nathan* to introduce American, methods into any of the industries of New Zealand. — I am, .etc. A. S. ALDRIOH. Wellington, Ist August, 1905. ' '