BRITISH WOOL INDUSTRY

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 601, 1 March 1929, Page 10

BRITISH WOOL INDUSTRY

SAFEGUARDING QUESTION WHERE CONTINENT WINS LOW WAGES AND LONG HOURS (Australian and N.Z. Press Association) (United Service) LONDON, Thursday. The Board of Inquiry which is dealing with the question of the safeguarding of the wool industry dealt to-day with the extent to which the low wages and long hours on the Continent count in the competition which British manufacturers have to meet. Mr. Henry Spencer, chairman of the Shipley District Employment Committee at the Ministry of Labour, gave evidence that the wages paid in Poland were from 30 to 40 per cent, of British wages; in Italy and Czecho-Slovakia, 40 to 45 per cent.; in Belgium, 50 per cent.; in France and Germany, 57 per cent.; in Holland, 75 per cent. Regarding Germany, Mr. Spencer produced statistics showing that among 36,519 textile workers 36.3 per cent, worked from 52 to 54 hours a week. A substantial proportion of the males actually worked for more than 56 hours. Of 15,107 male skilled workers 42 per cent, on an average worked from 52 to 54 hours and of 15,227 female skilled workers two-thirds averaged 48 to 54 hours. A British official wireless message says* the Association of Chambers of Commerce of Britain at present is considering the best means for making the principles of the safeguarding movement more easily applicable to the distressed trades in Britain.

LESS MEAT EATEN IN U.S. PUBLIC CHANGES DIET (Australian and N.Z. Press Association) CHICAGO, Thursday. Mr. Everitt Brown, president of the Chicago Live Stock Exchange, estimates that there has been a shrinkage of £275,000,000 in the value of livestock in the United States in the last six months. A diet propaganda was destroying the meat business. The prices of beef and cattle had dropped about 20s 8d a 1001 b, and the demand for beef was so curtailed that consumption in some sections of the country was 25 per cent, less than normal. Some experts asserted that the markets are clogged with beef, which could not be sold. Mr. Brown also said a great change in the public’s diet was in progress. Meat had been cut to a point 45 per cent, less than 3 0 years ago. CHICAGO WHEAT MARKET (Australian and N.Z. Press Association) Reed. 9.35 a.m. CHICAGO. Thursday. Wheat.—March, 1 dollar 23i cents a bushel; May, 1 dollar 29 1-8 cents; July, 1 dollar 31 7-S cents. IMPORTERS AND SHIPPERS A satisfactory year’s work was reported to members at the annual meeting of the Auckland Importers’ and Shippers’ Protection Association, held yesterday. The following directors were elected: Messrs. R. Burns, C. W. Coles, J. C. Bn trican, G. Jackson, G. Nevill, H. J. Mills, and H. G. Thomson. The only director who did not seek re-election was Mr. J. J. Kingston, his place being taken by Mr. Nevill. A vote of thanks was passed to Mr. Kingston for his past services. Mr. N. A. Duthie was reappointed auditor.