The improvement in employment is not entirely due to defence work, however. Civilian work is also increasing and there is a marked improvement in enquiry from the Continent for wool, tops and yarns. The demand from the retail trade has expanded. and the majority of merchants and wholesale clothiers were unusually busy around Whitsuntide.
Trading Stilt Good commended last Wednesday that if 482|no more orders for sandbags were Obtained 20 per cent. of the hessian looms and 10 per cent. of the sacking looms should be sealed up. Cal-cutty stocks of hessians declined slightly during last month, but those Of sackings increased substantially. Despite persistent rumours in Cal-cutty, it is generally believed in this country that India will not be asked to deliver any more sandbags when the present contract expires on June 30, but that Government orders will be retained for Dundee.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.