Haula e Opportunities
Page 37
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ptirnistic Outlook. Coal emand Better. Cotton a d Wool Business Imp oved. Footwear Makers Busy
THE position of trade in general at the time of writing is one of temporary quietude, owing to the holidays. Jo all quarters, however, optimism prevails.
The shipbuilding yards are still receiving fresh contracts. The iron and steel business is about the same as it has been for some weeks. Steel manufacturers on the Clyde say that busiIleSS is better than it has been for five years, and many of the foundries have work to last them well into 1935. The demand for structural steel is lac teasing.
Lithgows, Ltd., Port-Glasgow, has received an order for a steamer from the United Steam Navigation Co„ Newcastle. Messrs. William Denny and Bros., Dumbarton, have obtained an order for a single-screw passenger and cargo steamer for the Booth Steamship Co., Liverpool. John Brown and Co., Ltd., Clydebank, has received the contract from the Admiralty for the machinery for the cruiser "Birmingham."
Coal.
The coal industry is doing well. The intrease in the activity of shipping is having a direct effect on the demand for steam coal. The damp weather has increased activity in domestic sales and orders for coal for:industrial purpu&Is are steadily improving.
Cotton and Wool.
There is a much more cheerful tone in the reports from Manchester and district. A healthy business in a variety of materials and yarns for the home trade is to be noted. Export business generally is better and the demand from India continues to improve. The woollen factories are fairly active. There is a substantial output of weaving yarns.
Tinplates and Sheet Steel.
The demand for tinplates remains steady. Makers of black sheets are busy, both in the Midlands and in Scotland.
Timber and Building.
The demand at all the ports is mainly for small quantities of timber, merchants preferring, at the moment, at any rate, to operate on the hand-tomouth principle.
Amongst large works contemplated are the following —Public halls, etc., at Wolverhampton (£1.50,000), a conSereuce hall at Bournemouth (£80,000), swimming baths at Bexley (£30,000), Gateshead (£38,000), Glasgow (£45,000) and Wakefield (£25,000); and road schemes at Cannock (£30,450) and Middlesex (£126 , 000). Swansea proposes spending £250,000 on the building of a hospital and Bexley £25,000 or a similar purpose.
Three hundred houses are to be built
in Caterham and Warlingham, 178 at C anctonbury, 100 at Chester-le-Street, over 150 at Cottingbam, 102 at .Darlaston, 100 in Durham, 247 at Eastbourne, 128 at Fareham, over 400 at Harrow, 724 in Luton, over 330 in Manchester, 143 at Potters Bar, 142 at Sheffield, 100 at Stroud and 424 at Tynemouth.
• Bradford Markets Committee has had revised plans for an abattoir at St. James's Market (£45 , 000). Bristol 1-1ealth Committee has approved a scheme for a central clinic (£43,600). Cheshire E.C. is considering plans for new schools at filacon, Newton-byChester and Altrineham. A school is to bo erected in Longton, Staffs, and existing schools modernized, Plans are being prepared for a school at Melt-.
The cost of the proposed extensions of Bow Arrow Lane Hospital, Dartford, is estimated at £50,000. Salford T.C. has approved amended plans for 300 fiats by the Sutton Dwellings Trust, and the E.C. is negotiating for the purchase of a site for a school at Pendleton. A scheme is being reconsidered for extensions to Fife Joint Asylum (264,112). Barnsley T.C. proposes to apply for sanction to borrow £63,398 for the erection of 206 houses. Birmingham T.C; has approved schemes for. the construction of .486 houses on the Riddings Estate, Stechford; 112 on Hutton Estate, Yardley, and 146 on Stonehurst Estate, South' Yardley.
Newcastle T.C. proposes to purchase 136 acres of Bradwell Hall Farm, for housing, also some eight acres at Knutson and about four acres of the Westland site, for houses. Dew sbUry T.C. has decided to apply for sanction to borrow £99,628 for the erection of 316 houses. Merthyr Tydfil T.C. has approved plans for 105 houses.
The Miners' Welfare Fund (Pithead Baths Committee, London) is tb etect the largest pithead baths in Scotland, at the New Michael Colliery, East Wernyss.
Hardware.
There is a temporary lull in hardware business, which is certain to liven up in the New Year. Prospects are good and, although the building industry is not quite so busy as it has been, that is a seasonal feature and iS,'to large extent, offset by increased activity in engineering.
Boots and Shoes; Leather.
The improvement in the boot and shoe trade continues. What may be called the country districts, Kettering, Hinckley, Wellingborough and around, are now experiencing the benefits of the improvements which started in the town centres, Northampton and Leicester. The spurt which Norwich was expecting has now begun to make itself evident. In Bristol and the West Country many of the factories have or.ders to last for some weeks and, in the Leeds and Maiachester areas, the anticipated increase.in the demand for heavier footwear is materializing.
Drapery and Clothing.
Most of the retailers are, at the moment, preparing for the sales. Whilst this circumstance does not immediately react upon the manufacturing centres (Nottingham, Leicester and Manchester), it is good for the haulage industry, in that it involves frequent and urgent deliveries from wholesalers.
London Docks.
The following is the number of ships arriving at the London docks, wharves and jetties named, from December 28January 5 inclusive :—Docica: King George V, 4; Royal. Albert, 6; Royal Victoria, 5; Surrey Commercial, 8; West India, 2; East India, 3; South West India, 1; Tilbury, 9; Tilbury Stage, 3; Millwall, 5; London, 1, WEARvEs: Hays, 6; Middleton, 1; Tilbury Jetty, 3; Regent's Canal, 1.