UNOBTAINABLE

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20831, 15 June 1939, Page 8

UNOBTAINABLE

MANUFACTURERS’ GOODS EXPERIENCE IN HAMILTON 'FACTORIES AT FLTL PRESSURE The difficulties that have arisen in many parts of New Zealand as a result of the combined influences of the Import Control Regulations and the 40hour working week were strikingly illustrated in Hamilton this week, when three travellers dealing in soft goods lines were obliged to inform Hamilton business houses that the district could not be supplied with the goods. In fact, it was not until after several of the Hamilton firms had been invited to place orders with the manufacturers that they were given this information.

According to their usual custom the travellers, representing three of the Dominion's leading manufacturing warehouses, arrived in Hamilton on Tuesday and spent the morning setting out, their samples for display. This completed, they communicated with a number of 'Hamilton firms and made appointments for Wednesday, Thursday and Friday for the booking of orders. Scarcely had the arrangements been completed when one of the travellers received a telephone message from his head office in Wellington, advising him to pack up his goods and not to take any orders, as it was impossible for Ihe factory to supply the orders that had already been received from other districts. The factory was working at full pressure in an effort to fulfil tht orders already on hand, and the traveller was told to return to Wellington immediately without attempting to write up any business. Before long similar advice was received by the other two travellers. Solution To Difficulty “We cannot import these lines and now we are shown that it Is impossible to get them in any part of New Zealand,” commented the principal of one Hamilton firm to-day. “They were lines which are absolutely necessary in the town, but it seems that the law has been broujght to a stage where the people are to be prevented from securing the goods they need. At present the only apparent solution to the difficulty is the extension of the weekly working hours in the factories. If the factories cannot supply the people under a 40-hour week, and it* permission to secure the goods from overseas is to be refused, the logical way out of the trouble is to Introduce a 44-hour working week. The allowance of overtime would not be a feasible solution, for it w-ould only mean another increase in the cost of living." Next Year’s Supplies Another retailer of soft goods had a similar experience last week when the orders he had pladed for next year's supplies were cancelled. The orders were placed several months ago, but when making his periodical call last Aveek the manufacturers’ representative informed the retailer that there was absolutely no chance of meeting the demand. Present indications are that several essential lines, which are a big factor in the retailer’s business, will be unobtainable for next year.