REDUCTION OF STAFFS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 18 January 1939, Page 10

REDUCTION OF STAFFS

SMALL AUCKLAND INDENTING FIRMS AUCKLAND, 17th January, j Import restrictions have already had i their effect on the staffs of many small , indenting and importing firms in I Auckladn. Larger firms for the most ! part appear to be waiting the result j of appeals or serious diminution of stocks before taking action, i | Inquiry from a number of smaller i , firms revealed that eight had made . dismissals, three proposed to make dis- ' missals within a short period and tv | intended to consider the position when j existing stocks were sold. Three of the firms expected to close down within a j few weeks unless some relief was ob- i tained. Several large importing firms said j the staffing position would not be de-1

cided till more data had been obtain- > ed. One firm said it appeared that | , 16 or 17 of a staff of 33 would have to be dismissed within a few months : but no action was being taken meantime. Two large warehouses said that, * with considerable stocks on hand, it > was hoped to retain existing staff for • some time at least. In the majority of cases where small . firms had made dismissals, travellers were affected and in several instances . stenographers, storemen and salesmen had lost their positions. An im- [ porter pointed out that it was not . only lack of goods to sell which had , caused the dismissal of travellers. Proi spects of a shortage of supplies had i resulted in a phenomenal demand with i the result that stocks could be rapidly disposed of by telehopne. ’