Haulage Opportunities
Page 52
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
I N the latest I3oard of Trade figures for industrial production there is striking confirmation of the reports which have been appearing on this page week by week, indicating the gradual improvement in trade during the past 12 months. Of nine important industries, all of which have reference in these columns, an average improvement of 17i per cent. is shown, as compared with the figures for 1932.
The most striking increase is in con-: nection with iron and steel and .proclUcts of it, the output of which has grown by 58 per cent. Engineering and 'shipbuilding are a good second with an increase of 19 per cent., and there is a 15 per cent. riso in the activities of mines and quarries.
The number of new factories built in the country last year was 463. Against that figure must be set the abandonment of 409, leaving a net increase of 54. In addition, however, 55 important factories have been considerably extended.
Of the new factories, the majority has been built in Greatet London and the net increase in that area is 113, as well as extensions to 25. In the South and South-west areas of England the net increase is 10 factories, with extensions to four, and on the East Coast, five new 'factories, with extensions to eight.
In all other areas there is a decrease and in the Midlands there are 31 fewer factories, although 27 have been extended. In North-west England there are 15 fewer works, with 17 extended. In Scotland there are 15 fewer and four extended, and in the North-eastern area 13 fewer and 10 extended.
Trade in the heavy industries on the Clyde, North-east Coast and the Midlands continues to be good. Yarrow and Co., Ltd., Scotstoun, Glasgow, has received an order from Pretoria City Council for two land-type water-tube boilers. The contract includes the supply of materials by Babcock and Wilcox, Davidson and Co., G. and J. Weir, Ltd., and Dorman Long and Co., Ltd. The same company has received an order from the Burma Oil Co. for seven land-type water-tube boilers, and one from Messrs. Peter Dixon and Son, Grimsby, for a complete new boiler plant.
Cotton and Wool.
The slight improvement recently noted in the cotton trade continues ; export business is improving and purchases from India are increasing in quantity. In the home trade it is anticipated that business will soon be more active. The same cannot be said of the woollen industry, which is still quiet.
Boots and Shoes: Leather.
Trade in boots and shoes appears to be gradually moving towards increased popularity of better-class goods. All B38
orders are small and there is a continuous flow of them. The general tone is much better than it has been for some time. In the -country centres in particular, immediate delivery is a characteristic of every demand. There should be some loads for the docks, as the export trade is growing, particularly to the United States.
The qualification above as to the size of orders applies equally to the leather trade, in which the demand is strong.
Timber and Building.
The timber trade is, at the moment, providing exceptionally good opportunities for haulage. All the docks are busy receiving shipments.
The building trade continues to be active, as the following figures relating to large works which are contemplated go a long way to prove :— Barnsley is to build 75 houses at a cost of £23,387; Canterbury is spending £100,000 on a hospital, and Dagenham £47,093 on a school. An hotel in Hanley is to be reconstructed at a cost of £90,000. Hertford is spending £20,926 on a new school, and Hounslow and Isleworth £83,584 on baths and buildings.
The town hall at Poplar, London, is to cost £150,000, and a mental colony is to be erected at Leyboume Grange, at a cost of £69,700. Seventy cottages are to be built in Mitcham at a cost of £24,150; Swinton is building a civic centre to cost £250,000, and Cork is to spend £50,000 on an airport.
Actual contracts placed include the following major items :—Messrs. T. McDonald, Dundalk, are to erect two blocks of buildings at the Mental Bos pital, 13allinasloe, costing £143,322. Stephen Coates, Ltd,, Langbaurgh Place, North Ormsby, Middlesbrough, is to build 300 houses at Billingham (probably in connection with the new I.C.I. factory).
Crayford U.D.C. is to build 33 houses at its Watling Street site, by direct labour.
Messrs. M. J. Gleeson, Chesterfield Road, Sheffield, are to construct 92 houses at Ham Farm for Croydon T.C. (£30,229). Newby Bros., Ltd., Chase Road, London, N.14, is to extend Crouch End School, Wolseley Road, Hornsey (£17,578).
Messrs. Cropley Bros. are to erect new offices for Leatherhea.d U.D.C. at a cost of over £10,000, and the mental hospital at Limerick is to be extended at a cost of £-96,938 by Messrs. T. Gough, of Limerick. H. Neal, Ltd., 17, Green Lanes, Northwood, Middlesex, is erecting a block of offices in Telegraph Street, London, E.C. (£70,316).
Tynemouth T.C. has accepted the tender of Messrs. L. W. Evans, Coniscliffe Road, Darlington, for the erection of 216 houses on the Ridges Estate and for an electricity sub-station at Chirton, North Shields. Blaydon-on-Tyne U.D.C. has approved plans by the surveyor for the construction of 150 new houses.
Messrs. Marshall and Tweedy, 129, Pilgrim Street, Newcastle, have been appointed architects for the erection of new business premises, to cost £20,000, in ,Prudhoe Street, Newcastle, for Messrs. Morris and Jones.
The offer of Sir William Arrol and Co., Glasgow, to reconstruct the bridge over the Forth and Clyde Canal at Balmore Road, at a cost of £23,597, has been accepted by Glasgow Corporation's streets and buildings committee.
Glasgow Corporation is to erect plant at Fri-wan Works for the, production of sulphuric acid at a .cost of £18,500. The Corporation is also to build 926 houses.
Drapery and Clothing.
Wholesale clothing manufacturers ieport considerably improved orders and outwatt consignments from warehouses dealing in such goods are extensive. There are plenty of orders from the home market for hosiery and lace, and business is expected to improve still further in the near future.
London Docks.
The following is the number of ships arriving at the London docks, wharves and jetties named, from June 15-2:: inclusive DOCKS :—King George V, 6. Royal Albert, 6. Royal Victoria, 6. Surrey Commercial, 6. West India, 3. East India, 1. South West India, 1. Tilbury, 8. Tilbury Stage, 3. Millwall, 5. London, 12. WHARVES :—Hays, 6. Middleton's, 1. Regents Canal, 1.