Haulage Opportunities
Page 53
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May Statistics Show Considerable Improvement in Trade. Brighter Hopes in Lancashire. Many Big Building Contracts
rrHE figures for retail trade during J. May last are a definite indication of the considerable improvement in business throughout the country, as compared with that of last year. They show an actual increase of 7.7 per cent. as compared with the results for May, 1933. The biggest increase (16.9 per cent.) is in relation to boots and shoes, whilst a close second is men's and boys' wear, at 13.6 per cent. It is anticipated, too, that the improvement will continue.
Trade seems at last to be taking an upward trend in Lancashire. There are reports of several new factories being erected, one for the manufacture of pens and ink, another for making wall plugs, another by a concern of printers and paper-bag makers, and one for the manufacture of ropes, all in the Liverpool area.
A copper refinery is being erected at Prescot and a food manufacturer has acquired a mill at Ashton. At Heywood, a works formerly employed for the manufacture of cotton looms is to be adapted to the production of Corrugated pager. A cotton mill at Bury is being tra.nsformecl for the manufacture of rubber goods and a mill at Lees has been taken over by a maker of agricultural implements.
At Barnoldswick a Manchester concern is to manufacture poplins and flannelettes in a mill which was closed six years ago, and United Cattle Products, Ltd., Manchester, is extending its works for the production of ready-cooked foodstuffs. The Courtauld concern has taken over a factory at Castleton, Rochdale, where it is to make a new fibre product.
Contracts for the building and repair of many ships have been placed with shipbuilders on the Mersey.
Cotton and Wool.
The woollen mills are still rather quiet, with the exception of those spinning hosiery yarns, where a little more activity is reported. In Lancashire, export business with India is still improving, and a little more trade is being done with China. Home trade, too, is becoming more extensive.
Boots and Shoes: Leather.
The outstanding feature of the boot and shoe trade is the steady flow of small orders. The improvement in this industry, however, is spreading to factories in the country, instead of, as has been the case, being confined to the more industrial centres. The demand for leather is increasing.
Timber and Building.
Timber imports, at the time of writing, are in excess of those for some years. There is a slight decline in the number of private dwellings planned for construction, That, however, does not mean that there is any slackening in activity in the building trade, for
the decline just mentioned is more than offset by the increasing demand for business premises.
The following figures relate to large works which are contemplated:—Bradford is to build 156 tenements, to cost £51,700; 292 houses are to be built at Bristol (2116,980), 72 houses at Easington (£22,000), and schools are to be erected at Huyton and Slough.
Hoylake is to carry out electricity extensions, to cost £43,500, and £26,350 is to be spent on roads in the Westminster (London) area, Norwich is to spend £226,500 on municipal buildings and Portsmouth £165,000 on roads. Croydon is planning to spend £90,950 on housing schemes.
Glasgow Corporation is to build 99 tenements and a hostel at Springfield Road. The scheme will provide a total of 628 houses. Aberdeen E.C. is to spend £184,250 on the building and reconstruction of schools in Aberdeen.
Dumbartonshire E.C. is to build a new secondary school at Clydebank to cost 265,000, a new Roman Catholic school at Dumbarton (£35,000), and a new special school in the western area (£28,000). The committee is also to spend 212,500 on additions and alterations to Twechar public school and James Street school, Helensburg,h.
Ayr C.C. is to alter and extend Dreghorn public school at a cost of £13,633; Bank Street school, Irvine (219,090), and Loudon Street school, Irvine (24,578).
Aberdeen Housing Committee has accepted tenders, amounting to £63,756, for the erection of 216 houses. Tenders are to be invited for the construction of 84 additional houses.
Actual contracts placed include the following major items:—The erection of, an out-patients' department in Thome Road, Doncaster, for the Infirmary Board of Management, the work to be carried out by H. Arnold and Son. Ltd., Doncaster, the estimated cost being £35,000. •
Messrs. W. J. Dickens, 19, Broadway, Ealing, London, W.5, are to build a school on a site near Royal Lane, Hillingdon, for Middlesex E.C., at a cost of £27,566, and L. and W. Whitehead, Ltd., 169, Clapham Road, London, S.W.9, is extending Fryent School, Ringsbury, for the same E.C. (211,740). Messrs. T. Raban and Sons, Sun Street, Baldock, are erecting public offices and conveniences in the Broad
way for Letchworth T.C. (212,124).
Considerable extensions are being made at the infectious-diseases hospital, Portsmouth, and Messrs. Howe and Bishop, Francis Avenue, Southsea, have secured the contract (248,948). Messrs. J. Clark and Son, Seaham Harbour, are erecting 256 houses in West Herten, South Shields, for the T.C. (£71,594).
Sir William Arrol and Co., Ltd., Glasgow, has received the contract from the London C.C. for the demolition of Waterloo Bridge. The work involves the manufacture of -girders at Dalmarnock Iron Works, Glasgow, and of special cranes, which will be built at the company's Parkhead Crane Works.
A. and W. Smith and Co., Ltd., a concern of sugar machinery manufacturers, Glasgow, has received contracts worth £135,000 for the construction of plant for sugar-cane factories in India.
Drapery and Clothing.
Retail business in the drapery and clothing line has improved, and a feature of this trade is the large proportion of small, urgent orders. The lace trade is active and there is a rapid development to be noted in the demand for silk and rayon nets for dispatch to makers of evening dresses and blouses; This material is taking the place of cotton net. The hosiery trade is fairly good.
Hardware.
An important fact to bear in mind. relative to the hardware industry is that its prosperity is directly dependent upon the increased spending power, evidence of which is afforded in the first
paragraph of this article. Generally speaking, hardware manufacturers in the Birmingham districts and in the Midlands are active, Particular reference may be made to aluminium hollowware, bolts and nuts, metal fittings for the building industry, and components and accessories for cycles and motor vehicles.
Pottery.
The glazed-tile section of the pottery industry is working to full capacity. A new modern works has just been erected for mass production and many existing plants are being extended. The sanitary-ware section of the pottery industry is active, as also is that making accessories for the electrical trade.
London Docks.
The following is the number of ships arriving at the London Docks, wharves and jetties named, from July 13 to 21 inclusive :— DOCKS :—King George V, 10. Royal Albert, 4. Royal Victoria, 6. Surrey Commercial, 6. West India, 3. South West India, 1. Tilbury, 5. Tilbury Stage 3. Millwall, 5. London* 10. Purfleet, 1. WHARVES :—Hays, 6. Middleton's, 1. JETTIES :—Tilbury, 3. Regent's Canal, 2.