60 HANDS DISMISSED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22988, 16 March 1938, Page 12

60 HANDS DISMISSED

MOTOR-BODY FACTORY COMPETITION FROM ABROAD [BT TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION'] CHRISTCHURCH. Tuesday Because of competition from imported completely-knocked-down motor truck cabins, against which a lack of tariff protection is alleged, 60 hands employed by Rise Icy Motors, Limited, motor-body builders, Jiave recently been dismissed. Mr. B. H. Riseley, managing director of the company, said to-day that continued representations to the Government in the last 12 months for increased protection had been without result, and as it was impossible with increased costs to compete against the imported article, orders had fallen oft and it had been necessary to reduce the staff from 120 to 60. It had been thought that the protection desired might be included in the recent tariff revisions, but this was not done. But for the extra cost involved in the 10-hour week and increased wages it would still be possible to carry on the business on a competition basis, said Mr Riseley. Before the new labour conditions came into force costs were only two-thirds of what they were now.