WORKING SHORT TIME.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 209, 4 August 1937, Page 9

WORKING SHORT TIME.

FACTORIES’ DIFFICULTIES. AUCKLAND, Aug. 3,

“There is no doubt at all about it. In spite of what the Minister may say, a number of factories are working short time, and unless something happens they'soon all will he,” said an Auckland footwear manufacturer when he was asked whether reports of falling trade in the south were true of local industry. This informant stated that although the - Minister of Industries and Commerce (Hon. D. G. Sullivan) had quoted figures to show that New Zealand manufactures were booming, the plain fact was, so far as footwear was concerned, that the figures were out of date. They did not reveal the sudden slump that had taken place in the past two months. New Zealand manufacturers had been faced with heavily increased costs through higher wages and shorter hours under the new Industrie legislation, while world shortage had driven up leather prices until in Ma„ they were' 20 per cent, above the level of a year ago. The rise in leaif wages and hours had been altered gradually we might have been able to meet the situation, but as things are we are helpless unless the Governthat large and’that* requirements many lin | shipments soon to be delivered.