新西兰英语 115 Workers lose their jobs

　　Each week now we hear of more workers who are losing their jobs. This week, Sealord will lay off 180 workers from their Nelson fish processing factory but they will employ another 50 on the fishing boats. These days it is cheaper to process fish on the boat at sea, not in a factory.
Two timber¹ factories will also lay off workers. Nelson Pine Industries will lay off 60 workers while another timber factory in Christchurch, which employs 20 workers, will close. These factories are finding² it hard to sell their timber.
Pacific Brand which makes socks for an Australian company will lay off 46 workers. Their Palmerston North factory, which employs 52 workers, is for sale and will close if they can’t find a buyer. The Australian company is moving some of its factories to Asia.
Irwin Industrial Tools in Wellsford, north of Auckland, will lay off 105 workers out of a total of 162. They make tools like circular³ saw blades⁴ for builders. Most of their tools are exported to the United States but because of the financial problems in that country they cannot sell these tools. In a small town like Wellsford, it will be hard for workers to find other work.
Meanwhile some farmers say they are still looking for workers. For people who like working outdoors, farming is a good job. Usually, workers get a house to live in also. But some people do not want to leave a city.

1 timber   

n.木材，原木，大木料，栋木

参考例句：

• These trees need more time to grow into useful timber.这些树不够年头，还没成材呢。
• The timber is graded according to its thickness.木材按厚度分级。

2 finding   

n.发现，发现物；调查的结果

参考例句：

• The finding makes some sense.该发现具有一定的意义。
• That's an encouraging finding.这是一个鼓舞人心的发现。

3 circular   

adj.圆(形)的，环形的；循环的；n.传单，通报

参考例句：

• The bright boy altered it to a circular form.这个聪明的男孩把它改成了圆形。
• The lamp stands on a circular base.这盏台灯是装在圆形底座上的。

4 blades   

n.刀口( blade的名词复数 )；（机器上旋转的）叶片；桨叶；（船桨的）桨叶

参考例句：

• the blades of a propeller 螺旋桨叶
• Stay well away from the helicopter when its blades start to rotate. 直升机的螺旋桨开始转动时，尽量离远点儿。