H.—44.

APPENDIX.

MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES. Fruit-preserving and Jam-making. Official statistics, year ended 31st March — 1932. 1933. 1934. Establishments (number) .. . . 11 H 9 Employers (number) . . .. • • 441 388 347 Wages paid £59,074 £55,312 £48,830 Value of output .. .■ • •• £305,808 £277,866 £257,263 Value added by manufacture .. .. £121,228 £111,807 £123,437 Imports, calendar years — Jams and preserves (including preserved £(N.Z.) £(N.Z.) £(N".Z.) ginger).. .. •• 8,305 8,011 13,341 Fruits, bottled and preserved in syrup — Apricots .. •• •• 12,248 7,285 13,995 Peaches .. •• 23,741 15,367 17,871 Pears .. .. ■ ■ • • 573 227 585 Fruit pulp n.e.i. .. .. •• 1,931 4,628 6,224 Total .. .. 46,798 35,518 52,016 One South Island factory reports a general increase in output of approximately 10 per cent., with a slight increase in number of employees. The dry season in the North was responsible for smaller quantity of pears being packed. The tomato crop declined approximately 20 per cent., and, while sales of canned tomato soup and sauces were smaller, the improved quality gave better net results. Sales of jams and sauces generally were well maintained ; candied peel showed a slight increase. Northern factories report generally slight increase in staff, and prospects for current year are considered fairly good. A new unit in the industry has been established in the Hawke's Bay District under the title of the J. Wattie Canneries, Limited. Supplies of fruit for canning and pulping are drawn from orchardists in the district, and this factor is thereby materially assisting the fruit industry in that district. Lime and Cement. Official statistics, year ended 31st March— 1932. 1933. 1934. Establishments (number) .. . . 43 45 45 Emplovees (number) .. .. • • 794 688 631 Wages paid.. .. .. •• £164,665 £134,842 £130,675 Value of output .. •• •• £601,849 £4-83,840 £556,425 Value added by manufacture .. .. £474,821 £381,912 £444,125 Imports, calendar years : — Cement, building (cwt.) .. •• 4,968 3,981 9,370 Value £2,494 £2,330 £4,975 The report of the Department last year indicated that a revival in the building trade would be reflected in the production figures of lime and cement for 1934. The value of output has increased by £72,585, but the number of employees declined by fifty-seven and wages paid by £4,167. Present conditions in the building industry indicate that the figures for the current year will show increases over the 1934 figures. The imports of cement show substantial increases, notwithstanding the present exchange rate of 25 per cent. This is offset, of course, by the reduction in the British preferential rate of duty from 20s. to 13s. 4d. per ton, which has operated since 1933. Engineering. Official statistics, year ended 31st March —■ 1932. 1933. 1934. Establishments (number) . . . . 198 188 181 Employees (number) .. .. 2,691 2,329 2,383 Wages paid .. .. •• £513,554 £414,409 £398,721 Value of output £1,161, 974 £974, 490 £1, 054, 643 Value added by manufacture .. £748,246 £623,079 £652,638 Reports from various centres indicate improvement in general engineering work. A better type of business is now offering, a substantial proportion of which is the repair and replacement of plant which is now being brought into commission after being idle for some years. One company reports a new departure in manufacture of steel architraves and mouldings and chromium-plated steel furniture. The manufacture of lawn-mowers reports a substantial increase in number of all types sold compared with last year.

4 —H. 44.

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