UNITED STATES

Hokitika Guardian, 17 November 1927, Page 1

UNITED STATES

prosperity slumping. NEW YORK, Sept. 20. Prosperity is taking a slight slump in some quarters, according to some reports. A wave of unemployment unequalled since the post-war depression is said to be prevalent in New

A'ork City—and New A'ork is thought to be a pretty good indication of conditions elsewhere. The State Department of Labour reports that there are 10 per cent more unemployed now than at this time last year. The low wages paid to women make it possible for the Division of Kmplovment of that department to place all women who apply for work, but with men it is more difficult.

Unemployment is attributed by one of the officials of the Department of Labour to several causes:—-

First, the temporary closing of tin* Ford plant in Detroit, lias caused Ford’s laid-otf employees to come east for employment. Not only bis Detroit employees, but workers from his assembling plants throughout the country have turned up at the State employment agency out of jobs. Ford’s closing has also had a dulling effect on the manufacturers of auto parts, who are doing little or nothing until they see what Air Ford is going to put out in the shape of a new model automobile.

Secondly, the bad weather of Hie summer has hurt not only hotels, but also sellers and manufacturers ol clothing. Many have cut short their vacations, and so do not buy as many sports clothes as they usually do. They do not venture out on rainy days to buy at clothing stores. Thirdly, the building slum]). Reports show that there has been a slump in the painting, plastering and repairing trades.

Some others put down increased unemployment to the coming presidential election, which takes place a little more than a year from now; this is always calculated to keep business in suspense and large amounts of cash on hand, and to cause hesitation in starting new enterprises.

The increasing strong feeling about prohibition has sent an unprecedented number of Americans to Europe and Canada this summer, taking away millions of dollars to be spent elsewhere, which won 171 normally have boon spent here. It was estimated by a well-known American financier that Americans going to Europe have spent half a billion of dollars there this summer. OLDER. MEN SUFFER.

There is a big demand just now lor office boys. The greatest difficulty is with the placing of the older men, especially those over *lO years old. College men are unable to find work. There are college graduates 55 to CO years old with training as mining engineers out of jobs. 'J he demand for mining engineers is small, due to a slump. iAlost of the college graduates are of small or foreign universities. Even graduates of 'Oxford and Cambridge have been looking here for jobs. In Detroit there are at present 150,000 men out of work. That is a worse condition than is to he found in any other city.

In spite of this gloomy view of things, there is a strong likelihood that as fall progresses and winter arrives business will he found to pick up a hit. and some of those now unemployed will find work. DROP IN “AUTO” TRADE.

There is a falling off in production and in sales in the automobile industry which, of course, is quite usual for tiie between season which has now arrived. This, however, is not deterring manufacturers from preparing for tho expected big season not far ahead. They are adding new models to their already splendid lines or are preparing to do so soon. AA bile the keenest competition is expected in the light, low-price field, every indication points to a like condition in the highclass area as well. 'This is the conclusion reached when one ol the largest and leading manufacturers announced a complete new line of one of tho finest and most expensive models, followed this week by the announcement by another well-known maker of a high-class and costly car of a new line of body in three diticrent models. Before the close ol the year there is no doubt a number ol other manufacturers will be showing new models.