383,000 PERSONS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 77, Issue 133, 7 June 1934, Page 9

383,000 PERSONS

DEPEND ON N.Z. INDUSTRIES There were (in 1930) approximately 67,000 workers directly engaged m manufacturing. We will use the 1930 figures in this article, to eliminate t I question of abnormal unemployment. But, of course, the number dependent upon industry is not confined to those actually employed in the factories. Manufacturing industries create employment also in transport (road, rail and coastal shipping), coal mines, electricity works, building and maintenance and repairs, together with innumerable other businesses, trades and professions all over the Dominion. They support also their proportion of those employed in the public services, the Press and so forth. We find that for every 100 workers directly engaged in any kind of productive industry (primary or secondairy), there are 108 outside who are maintained in non-productive, or only indirectly productive work. The figures bearing out this statement will be given later. The manufacturing industries thus support, directly and indirectly, about 139.000 11 breadwinners.” The number of “breadwinners” in the community has been estimated at about 540,000, with 950.000 dependents (mostly wives and children). Accepting this ratio, wo find that there are roughly 244,000 dependents supported by the 139.000 breadwinners whose livelihood depends, directly or indirectly on the manufacturing industries. In other words, counting the 67,000 breadwinners directly employed in the factories, the 72.000 breadwinners “indirectly” maintained in employment, and their 244,000 dependent women and children, wo find that: —There are about 383.000 persons in Now Zealand who depend for their livelihood on the existence of our manufacturing industries. That is more than a quarter of

the total population. An Interesting Comparison Some interesting figures (the latest available) are given in the 1932 Year Book. Note that the manufacturing industries account for one-fourth of the total productive workers, and sheep and dairy farming (including dairy factories, meat works, etc.) for twofourths. Persons —Productive Industry— directly engaged Manufacturing industries .. .. 66,700 Dairy farming (including milk and pigs): 57,500. Sheep and cattle farming: 36,100. Mixed dairy and sheep or cattle: 21,900 —115.500. Dairy factories, meat works, tanneries, etc.: 11,800. Total: Sheep and dairy farming dairy factories, and meat works, etc 127,300 Agriculture (including tobacco) 10,000 Fruit, vegetables, poultry, bees 12.400 Sawmilling 7,300 Mining and quarrying 9.600 Fisheries 2,500 Gas and electric works .. .. 7,200 Building and construction .. 11,300 Public works 10,800 Grand Total: All productive industries 265,100 The remaining 286,000 “breadwinners” were engaged in transpoit (probably 40,000); post and telegraph (9000); teaching (9000); hotel and domestic service (48,000); social services, the professions and staffs, public administration, entertainment, advertising% wholesale and retail business (numbers unknown), am] miscellaneous other occupations. The total is 286.000, which gives a ratio of 108 (breadwinners in indirectly productive work, service and business) to every 100 engaged in directly productive industry.