DIFFICULTIES OVER FULFILLING ORDERS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 164, 29 July 1937, Page 4

DIFFICULTIES OVER FULFILLING ORDERS

Manufacturers' Circular to Retailers FEMALE LAB0UR SCAKCE An explanation of the difficult^ experienced by New Zealand manufacturxng houses iu fulfilling orders for summer goods for the coming s'easoxx is coutainea in a circular letter addressed to busin.ess houses throughout the Dominion, Coinment is made upon the shorter worknng week and the diificulty of obtaining xemale labour. Many of che manufacturing firms have instafled additional machxnery in an eft'ort to cope with increased orders under the new conditions. • "It may be that there is stiU some balance of orders outstanding on your accoUnt," states the circular. "If that is the case, we wish to tender our apologies for our non-fulfilment of tnem. When we set out with our indent ranges on August 1 last we were, of course, unaware of the Government 's mtended changes in the matter of the shorter workiflg week, but were then aware of the restoration of euts. "Our company was heavily committed for summer contracts, and although the shorter working week materially increased our costs we delivered our indent contracts at the prices taken. We regret. that vve have been unable to clear our iudexxt books entireiy in thc customary period. "Another factor which has had an important bearing on the matter has been the diificulty we have been confronted with in obtaining experienced female labour. This, and the shorter working week, have materially redtieed our expectancy of output, despite the fact that additional machinery has been installed. As far as is within our power, we have made additional provision to ensure greater output for next year." The 40-hour week is in general operation in France as it is in New Zealand, and there also the introduction of it has not been accompanied by a reduction in labour costs. The effect is being necessarily shown in the increased cost of all manufaetured goods. A Dunedin firm has reoeaved a letter from a firm of wine mercliants in France which illustrates this. The cost price of manufaetured goods has increased by at least 25 per cent, and in the case of goods essential to the wine and spirit trade, such as bottles, labels, corks, capulses and cardboard packing, there is an average increase of 50 per cent in price.