32
The year 1938 was quite outstanding in the industrial life of the Colony, the general improvement which set in in 1937 being well maintained. Hostilities in China caused many industrialists to turn their eyes to the Colony with a view to establishing themselves here. Consequently, industries, hitherto unknown in the Colony, have come into being, for instance, the manufacture of war necessities such as gas masks, metal helmets, spades and entrenching tools, uniforms, water-bottles, the assembling of field telephones, and portable military transmitting and receiving sets. Other new industries are the manufacture of bicycles and tricycles, tabloid medicines, nails, postage stamps, bank notes, coupons, tooth brushes, and pearl buttons. Many Shanghai workers were brought into the Colony for these trades, especially for printing, this finer craft being peculiar to the northern Chinese. The output of electric hand-torches, dry-batteries, rubber boots and shoes, cotton and silk goods, etc., mostly for Empire and oversea markets, was well maintained.
Many new factory-type premises have been erected, and plans for more are in preparation. The general prosperity in some trades and the pressure exerted by the Health Authorities and the Factory Inspectorate have resulted in the removal of some factories from the tenement-house premises, which they formerly occupied, to new modern factory-type buildings. But the conversion of tenement houses into factories still remains a disquieting feature of the industrialization of the Colony, especially in view of the acute housing shortage due to the influx of refugees from China.
There was a good demand for skilled and unskilled male labour in the heavy industries. Female workers, too, were in demand, especially in the cigarette-making, spinning, and weaving factories. The general supply of labour, skilled, unskilled, and casual, is, however, in excess of the demand. It is difficult to state in what proportion this excess obtains at present owing to the abnormal conditions created by the Sino-Japanese hostilities.
It is estimated that about 55,000 workers of both sexes are employed in the various industries. Of these, some 17,000 are spread over the less important industries. The approximate distribution of the remainder is as follows:-
Industries Male Female Total Shipyards 10,390 36 10,426 Sugar Refineries 871 81 952 Oil Refineries 449 12 461 Breweries 52 48 100 Metal Wares 1,756 2,170 3,926 Knitting Factories 1,710 5,035 6,745 Spinning and Weaving Factories 1,597 4,554 6,151 Engineering 674 4 678 Rubber Factories 599 1,420 2,019 Newspaper Factories 743 2 745 Printing Factories 3,664 703 4,367 Tobacco Factories 319 1,372 1,691 22,817 15,394 38,211Employment in the heavy industries, e.g., roads, reclamations, buildings, shipyards, etc., is on the contract system. Otherwise, the piece-work or the monthly wage system is adhered to.
32
The year 1938 was quite outstanding in the industrial life of the Colony, the general improvement which set in in 1937 being well maintained Hostilities in China caused many industrialists to turn their eyes to the Colony with a view to establishing themselves here. Consequently industries, hitherto unknown in the Colony, have come into being, for instance, the manufacture of war necessities such as gas masks, metal helmets, spades and entrenching tools, uniforms, water-bottles, the assembling of field telephones, and portable military transmitting and receiving sets. Other new industries are the manufacture of bicycles and tricycles, tabloid medicines, nails, postage stamps, bank notes, coupons, tooth brushes and pearl buttons. Many Shanghai workers were brought into the Colony for these trades, especially for printing, this finer craft being peculiar to the northern Chinese. The output of electric hand-torches, dry-batteries, rubber boots and shoes, cotton and silk goods, etc., mostly for Empire and oversea markets, was well maintained.
Many new factory-type premises have been erected and plans for more are in preparation. The general prosperity in some trades and the pressure exerted by the Health Authorities and the Factory Inspectorate have resulted in the removal of some factories from the tenement-house premises, which they formerly occupied, to new modern factory-type buildings. But the conversion of tenement houses into factories still remains a disquieting feature of the industrialization of the Colony, especially in view of the acute housing shortage due to the influx of refugees from China.
There was a good demand for skilled and unskilled male labour in the heavy industries. Female workers, too, were in demand, especially in the cigarette-making, spinning and weaving factories. The general supply of labour, skilled, unskilled and casual, is, however, in excess of the demand. It is difficult to state in what pro- portion this excess obtains at present owing to the abnormal conditions created by the Sino-Japanese hostilities)
It is estimated that about 55,000 workers of both sexes are employed in the various industries Of these some 17,000 are spread over the less important industries. The approximate distribution of the remainder is as follows:-
Industries.
Male.
Female.
Total.
Shipyards
10,390
36
10,426
Sugar Refineries
871
$1
952
Oil Refineries
449
12
461
Breweries
52
48
100
Metal Wares
1,756
2,170
3,926
Knitting Factories
1,710
5,035
6,745
Spinning and Weaving Factories
1,597
4,554
6,151
Engineering
674
4
678
Rubber Factories
599
1,420
2,019
Newspaper Factories
743
2
745
Printing Factories
3,664
703
4,367
Tobacco Factories
319
1,372
1,691
22,817
15,394
38,211
Employment in the heavy industries, e.g. roads, reclamations, buildings, ship- yards, etc., is on the contract system. Otherwise the piece-work or the monthly wage system is adhered to.
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