SECONDARY INDUSTRIES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22632, 25 July 1935, Page 9

SECONDARY INDUSTRIES

MANUFACTURERS OPTIMISTIC BUSY TIME IN AUCKLAND (Special to Daily Times) AUCKLAND, July 24. The return of confidence which has been the subject of cheerful reports from members of the retail trade in Auckland is reflected in most of the secondary industries, according to manufacturers interviewed to-day. More people are employed in factories than was the case a year ago, and some workshops are working at high pressure in Auckland. The channels which have absorbed a considerable proportion of the additional factory employees are certain branches of engineering stimulated by the increased building activity, and the softgoods and footwear industries. In some other industries where individual manufacturers were not employing more hands than last year they were able to state that their factories, nevertheless, were definitely busier than a year ago. One manufacturer, whose business embraces that of tinsmith, coppersmith and brass-finisher, said he was per cent, more hands than at this time last year. It was becoming a problem to find "space for his staff, and he was forced to contemplate the building of. an additional factory. • " Whichever way you turn you cannot find a tinsmith now," he said, in referring to the increased demand for labour. "It is also difficult to get a good carpenter." The increased building activity had stimulated the demand for all building hardware a'nd beneficial effects were felt also from the Unemployment Board subsidy to the dairy farmers for the improvement of plant. This manufacturer summed up the position as reflected in his industry by saying, " Wheels are turning round now which a year ago were idle." The position in the softgoods manufacturing industry was said to be definitely better. "On a conservative estimate we are employing 5 per cent, more hands than a year ago," said one manufacturer. The boot factories throughout the Dominion were stated to be actively engaged. The director of one large Auckland factory said his firm was employing from 5 to 10 per cent, more workera, male and female, than was the case this time last year.