MORE JOBS

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 148, 19 December 1929, Page 8

MORE JOBS

AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRIES

NEW TARIFF EFFECTS

(From "The Post's" Representative.)

SYDNEY, 12th December. Scarcely a day passes without the announcement of some new industry, or tha extension of an already-established industry, in Australia, and each announcemenfc «™Sf7 Cr<i it to, the- new Proactive tariff, recently brought into operation by the % G°ver"m«lt- The Prime Ministei (Uv. Scullm) said yesterday that as a. i.esult of the new tariff 130,000 new jobs would be created within twelve months. He said that 30,000 more men would ba employed almost immediately. Of course. Air. fecullm might be biased in reaching those estimates, but it is a.fact that there has been marked activity in many local industries, notably in silk hosiery, apparel, textiles, and allied trades. Four leading arms in Bilk hosiery manufacture are already extensively extending their premises. :

One firm whose goods are sold extensively m Australia and New Zealand has decided that now that the new tariff has been imposed that trade should be met t>y a iactory on a huge scale which will be erected near Melbourne. The machinery has been ordered and some of it is oa the water. The firm estimates that before long it will employ 1000 hands in tha various processes of maf g silk stockings. Another hosiery firm has stated that within twelve months it will employ 650 more nands than it does at present. Ihe sudden imposition of the increased rate on silk hosiery took the trade by surPi7 se -ii T he- new du*y of is 2d a Pair on all silk hosiery other than British, and 2s 6d a pair on British, came at a time when large supplies were on the water, and big orders had been placed. It hit the importers very heavily, and although Australian mills have been working three shifts, it will not be possible to meet the demand for some months to come. Consequently there will be a shortage in the better lines, and retail prices will be raised after Christmas.

Activity is also manifest in the woollen, and knitting mills One of these mills Has already ordered a large quantity of new machinery from abroad, and it is extending its factory. Other results of tha tanft are that the important industry of motor body building has received a great impetus; the manufacture of a famous magneto will now be undertaken in Australia, under licence; the making of all kinds of wireless parts, which have been specifically marked out for protection will be earned out almost immediately; and every inducement has been given for tha local distillation of spirits. It was reported this week that several overseas firms have cabled instructions to Sydney agents to secure for them firstclass factory lands, and that representatives of these firms are on their way to Australia to open new factories.