Haulage Opportunities
Page 53
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Engineering and Shipbuilding Trades Busy. Big Demand for Drapery find Clothing Expected.
Good Pottery Business
ASOMEWHAT serious note is struck by the Federation of British Industries in a business forecast, in which it is Stated that it does not appear that British trade is at the beginning of a recovery but that it has probably already reached normal, having regard to the limitattons of the international situation, which shows few signs of improvement.
It is, nevertheless, worthy of note that both the engineering and shipbuilding industries appear to be particularly active. In Sheffield, work was resumed after the shortest holiday for a number of years. In nearly every case new orders are coming in as fast as existing ones are executed.
In the Middlesbrough district, most of the works are actively employed. In Birmingham, pressure of work necessitated curtailment of the holidays. A period of considerable activity is anticipated amongst manufacturers of light castings, and mills producing small steel bars are well situated.
In Scotland, the position is stated to be encouraging. From Lancashire comes the report that more orders have been received by engineering concerns than for some time past and that the number of inquiries is increasing.
To the shipbuilding industry a similar state of affairs appears to prevail. On the Clyde, last week, the tonnage launched was the largest since the depression became acute about three years. ago. Orders for new shipping have been received on the Tyne.
Boots and Shoes. • The hoot and shoe industry is quiet after the holidays, but it is anticipated that full activity will prevail by the end of this month.
Cotton and Wool.
Business is still quiet in the staple industries of Lancashire and Yorkshire, namely, cotton and wool. There is some demand for certain classes of English wool, but most spinners are only just able to keep their machinery running.
Drapery and Clothing.
In the drapery and clothing industry preparations are being made for considerable business in the autumn. The exception to that rule is the millinery section, there appearing to be some demand for women's felt hats, which is bringing a little more work to manufacturers in Luton and Denton.
Timber and Building.
A. further indication of the continued prosperity of the building industry is afforded by some reports of the quantities of bricks handled by the railway
companies. The traffic from Peterborough to London, which was 575,S00 tons in 1923, had increased •to 1,114,000 tons last year.
Amongst large works contemplated are the following :—Buildings at Lindsey (Lincs) to cost £30,560; Salop £20,207, and Bristol £128,016. Ayr proposes erecting 792 houses (£257,625) ; Sheffield is considering spending £57,202 on houses ; Stockton £21;070 on houses and £130,000 on bridges, etc. ; and Stevenston is to have 150 houses (£51,028).
Northumberland is to spend £52,850 on road work and Coventry £29,000 on roads and sewers. Bridges at Saxilby will cost £45,000 and in Staf
fordshire £37,626. Expenditure on hospitals in Birmingham will amount to £144,534, whilst in south-east London £300,000 is to he spent. Torquay is considering spending £27,000 on a library. Kingston-on-Thames County Hall extension scheme is to be proceeded with (£180,000).
Actual contracts placed include the following major items :—A grammar school, at Bideford, to be built by AM. Coles. Ltd. (£15,884), and a school and church at Yardley Wood, Birmingham, the contract having been secured by Messrs. S. W. Swift and Sons, 200, Alcester Street, Birmingham. Messrs. F. T. Wilson and Sons, 115, St. James Street, Brighton, are to carry out alterations and additions to the Municipal Technical College, Brighton (£15,288).
Walter Firth (Doncaster), Ltd., is to erect a girls' department for the Yorkshire Institution for the Deaf (£21,000). Messrs. H. H. . Goodsell, 82, Sandling Road, Maidstone, are to build 90 houses on the ,Ringlesfone housing estate for Maidstone T.C.
(£26,700). Messrs. G. Fordy and Son, Stockton-on-Tees, are to build 336 houses on the Eastbourne Estate, Durham Road, for Stockton T.C. (£100,410).
Alloa T.C. is to build 150 houses, the architects being Messrs. John Melvin and Sons, Mar Street, Alloa. Scottish Cinemas and Variety Theatres, Ltd., is to erect a cinema in Ellis Street, Coathridge. to seat 2,009 persons. Wigtown C.C. is to erect 74 houses, whilst Airdrie T,C. is to build 132 houses in the Clarkston district. Messrs. D. McEwing and Sons, 1, Bank Street, Greenock, are to build 300 houses between Auchneagh Road and Grieve Road, Greenock. Glasgow Cotporation is to construct 364 houses.
A new cinema, to cost £30,000 and to seat 2,500 persons, is to be built in George Street, Aberdeen. The architect is Mr. T. Scott, Sutherland, 10, Allayn Place, Aberdeen. Stornoway T.C. is to construct a concrete dam, forming a loch into a reservoir, with a house to accommodate mechanical filters and a service reservoir of reinforced concrete. There will be about five miles of water main. The engineers are Messrs. Gilbert Thomson and Son, 164, Bath Street, Glasgow.
Lanarkshire E.C. is to build a primary school at Carmyle .(215,000), Grangemouth T.C. is to erect an additional 168 houses. Plans have been passed for the construction of a swimming pool at Inverness (£15,644).
Pottery.
In the pottery trade, those concerns which are interested in the manufacture of glazed wall and hearth tilea are busier than ever and anticipate that this state of affairs will continue. A similar statement applies to the sanitary-ware section of the industry.
Hardware.
Makers of galvanized holloware in the Black Country, particularly those manufacturing dustbins, buckets, and similar goods are increasing their outputs and have good prospects. Much of the work is for delivery to London and the south of England. Similar remarks apply to makers of enamelled holloware. Nut and bolt producers are working on full time and the seamlesstube industry is busy.
Hosiery and Lace.
Manufacturers of knitted outerwear in the Midlands are anticipating a good season. Business in men's half-base and in children's wear appears to be good. The largest contract for mosquito nets that has been placed since the War is under consideration. In Leicester, preparations are being made for a big winter trade.
London Docks.
The following is the number of ships arriving at the London docks, wharves and jetties named for August • 17-25 inclusive :—
DOCKS :—King George V, 10. Royal Albert, 7. Royal Victoria, 3. Surrey Commercial, 6. West India, 4, East India, 4. South-West India, • 2. Tilbury, 6. Tilbury Stage, 3. IVIillwall, 4. London, 4. Wmaityks:—Hays, 7. Mark Brown's, 1. Regent's Canal, 1.