BRITISH MACHINERY

Waikato Times, Volume 92, Issue 14367, 20 May 1920, Page 3

BRITISH MACHINERY

ALMOST UNPROCURABLE. A business mnn who has lately spent some time in England told a Manavvatu Daily Times reporter recently that British machinery was almost unprocurable owing to the extensive labour troubles. For instance, a recent moulders’ strike, holding up the whole engineering production, had lasted eight months. It was settled at length, and another strike in another branch of the work immediately took its place. This was what disheartened the English producers. Some of them were absolutely despondent and thought the position was quite hopeless. Some millers whom Tie had approached would give him a price, and two days later would ingenuously quote one 15 per cent, higher. It was not their fault, for others would not quote at all. Baldwin's, one of the biggest concerns in the world, would give, definite prices only on actual delivery, and some factories were hooked up for two years ahead. The worst feature of the position was that there was apparently no relief, and high prices and scarcity seemed inevitable for some time yet.