H.—44.

Coach and Motor-body Building. Output: 1925, £720,886 ; 1926, £764,491. Employees : 1925, 1,316 ; 1926, 1,496. The above shows an increase in both value of output and number of hands engaged. Since March, 1926, and particularly since the beginning of 1927, a very dull period has been experienced, there being a strong tendency on the part of the public to practice economies where this class of manufacture is concerned. Coachbuilding forms a very minor portion of this group. Clothing. Output: 1925, £2,339,462 ; 1926, £2,515,280. Employees : 1925, 6,652 ; 1926, 6,833. The number of employees engaged in this industry makes it rank high in importance especially as one that provides work for a very large number of females. It is satisfactory, therefore, to note that for the year ended the 31st March, 1926, an increase in output and employees is recorded. Unfortunately the reduced purchasing-power of the community has recently reflected itself in a decided lull in the clothing-factories' output, a number of which are now only running part time. There are hopes that in the coming spring business will again increase. Chemical Fertilizers. Output: 1925, £799,189 ; 1926, £1,110,684. Employees : 1925, 528 ; 1926, 706. This industry, which is largely made up of the manufacture of superphosphates, is expanding rapidly, and even since the above returns were prepared a new works commenced operations at Wanganui in September last. The Burnside works, at Dunedin, are about to be extended. The greatly reduced prices of superphosphates in the North have had the effect of creating a huge demand with consequent increased output. Printing, Publishing, and Bookbinding. Output: 1925, £4,052,545 : 1926, £4,369,480. Employees : 1925, 6,779 ; 1926, 7,223. It will be readily seen from the above that this industry continues to grow rapidly. It is an industry which gives a great deal of employment, and, as a matter of fact, next to the sawmilling industry it employs the largest number of hands. Those associated with the industry report very keen competition from oversea® manufactures. Woollen-mills. Output: 1925, £1,263,743; 1926, £1,150,771. Employees: 1925,2,381; 1926,2,326. The figures quoted show a decline in the activities of this industry. Some mills are still running short time, but there has been a slight improvement since the above returns were compiled. Imports of woollen goods have fallen off to some extent during the present year, and this has created a better demand for the local article.

Approximate Cost of Paper.—Preparation, not given ; printing (1,250 copies, including graph), £34 10s.

Authority: W. A. G. Skinwek, Government Printer, Wellington.—l 927.

Price 9d.\

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