Haulage Opportunities
Page 66
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THE brightest spot in a fairly bright report of industrial conditions is in respect of electrical equipment. Reports from all the centres where the manufacture of these products is carried on disclose that more business is now being obtained than at any time during the past four years. The value of orders in hand is actually 75 per cent. higher to-day than a year ago.
'Fhe shipbuilding industry is doing well. From the Clyde comes the report that October has been the best month so far this year. In Belfast shipbuilding is fair; on the North-east Coast, ship-repairing business is im'proving. Mersey-side yards are busy and the Thames reports new orders. Perhaps the best figures are from Clydeside.
In the iron and steel industry the upward trend which has been consistently reported for some weeks still prevails and, we understand, is expected to be maintained, There is more business being done in structural steel. Manufacturer& of finished iron and steel in Middlesbrough state that for five years they have not been so busy as to-day.
Coal.
The demand for house coal is now steadi!y expanding. Industrial use remains fairly constant, but gas and electricity undertakings are taking more. A new development is reported from Lancashire, where Many household consumers who are buying their coal direct from small pits are demanding the services of hauliers to make delivery.
Pottery and Glass.
The pottery business is still improving, particularly the section which is concerned with products for building, such as tiles and sanitary ware. There are good, reports from glass makers, both in the Midlands and provinces.
Timber and Building.
Reports from all the docks are still favourable so far as prospects of loads of timber are concerned. There is ample work in London in the carting of timber for building. In addition, there is a fair demand for hardwood for furniture making. In Liverpool, there is ample business; imports are heavy and the docks are being cleared as fast as they are being filled. Manchester reports that the demand is maintained. In Birmingham, business in woods for building is good, and that for hardwoods for furrn'aire is increasing. Packing-case makers in the Birmingham area are big buyers of timber.
Amongst large works contemplated are the following :—Road schemes at Blaydon (-£61,000); Manchester (£130,000) ; Warwickshire (£46,600) ; a car-park scheme at Hastings (A26,000); a college at Newcastle
1348 ' (£200,000) ; council offices at Solihull £25,210) ; sea-front development at South Shields (£250,000); a building programme in Denbighshire (£65,813). Glasgow contemplates building 351 houses ; 128 houses are to be erected in Bath, 200 in Edinburgh, 190 at Goldborne; 410 houses, etc., at Orpington and 130 houses at Southend-on-Sea.
Glamorgan C.C. proposes spending £200,000 on schools. Hull Water Committee has approved the purchase of a site for a reservoir at Farndale, the total estimated cost of which is £1,739,000. Plans are being prepared for a College of Commerce and a College of Technology at Newcastle.
Actual contracts placed include:— Extensions to Kennards Drapery Store in Keeley Road and Frith Street, Croydon, by Messrs. G. Baines and Son, 121, Victoria Street, London, SAVA (£70,000), and the erection of 234 houses and 313 flats on the Stockport Road site, Stockport, for the T.C. by Messrs. T. Davies and Son, Stockport.
Aberdeen T.C. is to build 232 houses, whilst Aberdeenshire County Road Board is to spend £17,000 on roads. Glasgow Corporation is to proceed with the 15-year plan for the reconstruction and extension of the sewage system at an estimated cost of £2,500,000. Irvine F.C. is to build a further 100 houses, and Stornoway T.C. 100 houses.
Newcastle-on-Tyne City Council has accepted the tender of Gustavus Bailey, Ltd., South Shields, for the erection of 120 houses on the Daisy Hill estate. The C.W:S. Building Dept., West Blandford Street, Newcastle, has secured a contract for the erection of a new bakery at Annfield Plain, Co. Durham, and for the erection of a warehouse and showroom at Hobson for the Burnopfield and District Co-operative Society, Ltd.
Drapery and Clothing.
Most orders for Christmas goods have now been placed, but deliveries have still to be made, at least in the majority of cases, both of orders placed and of rush and supplementary commissions which will inevitably follow. Hauliers should have ample work in that connection for the next fortnight. There is a good deal of unexpected business in gloves and linen goods.
Cotton and Wool.
The textile trade in Manchester at last shows distinct signs of improvement. There is a fair demand for cotton piece goods for home trade, also poplins and dress materials. Rayon sales are good and the export business is improving, there having been a growth in the demand from India. The woollen trade remains steady.
Boots and Shoes Leather.
The Midland shoe-manufacturing districts have plenty of orders, mainly for immediate delivery. Leicester factories in particular have sufficient work to keep them occupied for some time.
Leeds manufacturers are busy, mainly on working-men's boots, Bristol and the West Country are every day becoming busier, Lancashire manufacturers are mainly interested in evening and dance slippers, Norwich factories have substantial orders, and Christmas goods are a feature throughout the trade.
The leather markets reflect the increased activity on the manufacturing side. From the Runcorn, Warrington and Liverpool centre comes the report that .the demand is increasing for all classes of leather. Bermondsey anticipates big business in the future.
Hosiery and Lace.
Hosiery orders are increasing. The knitted-outerwear department is busy, also those factories making net lace.
London Docks.
The following is the number of ships arriving at the London docks, wharves and jetties named, from November 30 to December 7, inclusive : Domes: King George V. 7; Royal Albert, 5; Royal Victoria, 4; Surrey Commercial, 9; West India, 3; East India, 1; South West India, 1; Tilbury, 7; Tilbury Stage. 3; Millwall, 6. WHARVES: Hays, 5; Middleton's, 1; Tilbury Jetty, 1; Regent's Canal, 1.