Factories and Workshops
During the year 487 applications for registration of factories and workshops were received. 412 registration certificates were issued and 159 were cancelled. 31 applications were refused and a further 49 unregistered factories found operating in unsuitable premises were closed down. On 31st December 1950 there were 1,244 registered factories and workshops and 328 applications under consideration. These figures compare favourably with those for 1949, which were 991 and 284 respectively.
The field of inspection continues to expand and now embraces 150 types of industry. Additions during the year include the manufacture of candles and lime chalk, tea blending and packing.
Employment returns from factories and workshops for the last quarter of 1950 were not yet available but in view of existing shortages of raw materials and steadily mounting prices, a reduction in numbers is anticipated. It is known that several industries, e.g. aluminium hollow ware, metal wares and rubber factories, were affected by raw material shortages and that many small factories, notably knitting and weaving, were affected by high prices of materials. Such small factories usually buy their materials by the day or week and sudden increases in prices are sufficient to put them out of business. The competition offered by new factories, employing new machinery and more modern methods has also hastened their end.
Shipbuilding and repairing which for years held pride of place in the Colony's employment list has now taken fourth place to weaving, knitting and spinning, respectively. In June 1949 employ- ment in the shipyards stood at 9,800, in December 1949 at 8,650 and in September 1950 at 7,819. The shipbuilding output for the year has however been considerable, the decline in employment figures reflecting previous over-employment which is being gradually rectified.
The cotton spinning industry continues to expand and the 13 mills now in operation employ 7,815 operatives at approximately 200,000 spindles and produce 12,500 bales of yarn monthly. In addition four of the mills have weaving sheds with a total of 900 modern looms.
Employment figures have fluctuated during the year but there was an overall increase in the first nine months of 1950 from 1,373 to 1,692 registered and recorded factories and workshops employing 55,176 men and 31,945 women. These figures include premises under consideration for registration and certain unregistrable workshops under observation.
In the same period those employed in cotton spinning increased by 1,700, in weaving and knitting by approximately 1,000 each and in garment-making by 700, bringing the total employed in the textile industry to 27,639. Iron ore mining and printing and publishing each showed an increase of 1,000, and enamelled hollow ware and rubber shoes a decrease of 600 and 2,500 respectively.
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