Unemployment For Christmas

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 258, 30 October 1937, Page 4

Unemployment For Christmas

Dismal Prospects for Auckland Factory Girls IMPORTATIONS RESPONSIBLE, SAY THE MANUFACTURERS Per Pres* Association. AUCKLAND, Last Night. Beause orders have slackened owing to overseas importations, manufacturers in several industries state they aro now engaged in building up stocks, confidently anticipating they will be able to work off such stocks when the Christmas trade develops. While stock reduction takes place, they propose to shorten staffs, as heavy manufacturing would not then be warranted. One of such manufacturers who is in the clothing industry states positively that he is putting off 150 female opera fives in the first week in December, but he hopes to be in a position to reengage them early in the new year. Men closely in touch with labour conditions expect there will be a fair amount of unemployment in several skilled trades during the Christmas season, indeed, some industries have already begun to put off hands. The millinery factory industry is said to be feeling a pinch beyond that of mere seasonal conditions, and there have been fair dismissals, one firm having just put off 30 hands. Importations, largely of a cheaper type of millinery, are said to be responsible for the condition of trade. Importations of hats, caps and millinery increased from £107,054 iu the first eight months of last year to £154,610 in the first eight months of this year. The clothing manufacturer who is shortening staff by 350 in the first week in December produced his books for inspection. These showed that orders received in September and October were one-twentieth, approximately, of those received in May and June. In those months he tried unsuccessfully to obtain 100 more hands. “Because I could not get the hands I desired, owing to labour laws which prevented the economic employment of unskilled girls close to or at the age when .hey were entitled to draw the basic wage, I had to refuse the orders," he said. “ Traders cabled their requirement* overseas. “At the time I made representations to the Government pointing out the effect the basic wage was having on the employment of mature girls who had not experience in a clothing factory, and the position in which it wai placing the development of my industry. 1 also put the position before the public in tho newspapers. Now I will have no other recourse, because I cannot indefinitely continue making stock, but to dismiss hands at the time I stated. Really in employing these girl* on making stocks I am now gambling on the expectation that the trade will soon revive in apparel and ready-made clothing. * ’ For the trade in which the manufacturer quoted is engaged, the importations in the first eight months of this year were £1,355,449 compared with ‘£355,550 in the corresponding period. ! Importations of hosiery increased from j £130,231 in the first eight months of 1936 to £281,655 in the first eight months of this vear.