H.—44.

Corriedales and Romneys, also in grass and clover seeds. The presence of a representative in South Africa will also allow of a close examination of the prospects of the South African market for a number of our other lines of export. Altogether, it is expected that New Zealand's representation at the exhibition and the visit of a representative of the Dominion to South Africa will bring material results. Incidentally, it is hoped that a reciprocal arrangement may be made whereby South Africa will be represented at the New Zealand Centenary Exhibition to be held in Wellington in 1940. Japanese Exhibition. During the year a representative of the Osaka Mainichi Co., publishers of the two newspapers Osaka Mainichi and Tokyo Nichi-Nichi, paid a visit to the Dominion for the purpose of gathering material for the publication of a good-will volume, entitled " Japan —Australia and New Zealand." At the same time the company proposed to sponsor an exhibition of Australian and New Zealand products in Japan, and the representative placed before various interests the plans in this regard. This Department undertook the collection of a range of industrial exhibits, and these were duly displayed at the exhibition held in Osaka during September and October. The New Zealand display was inspected by a great number of people, while publicity was given to the effort in the Osaka Mainichi, in which appeared articles descriptive of New Zealand's attractions. At the termination of the exhibition the New Zealand exhibits were transferred to the Fumin Kaikin (Agricultural Museum), where they are being held permanently. STORES CONTROL BOARD. The Department is represented by an officer on the Advisory Committee of the Stores Control Board, and, in addition to the ordinary duties devolving upon him as a departmental representative, he is also instructed to look to the interests of the New Zealand manufacturers in the matter of Government purchases of stores. MANUFACTURERS' ASSOCIATIONS. The Department continues to keep in close contact with the activities of Manufacturers' Associations in each of the four centres. The district officer of the Department in each centre attends the regular meetings of the association and acts in an advisory capacity on the executive. The membership of the Auckland Association in November last stood at 260, according to the association's last annual report. By the 11th May, however, this figure had increased to 450, an increase of 190 on the figure for November. This achievement is somewhat remarkable, and the Auckland Association is to be congratulated upon its success in securing new members. The Auckland Winter Exhibition held in July, 1935, was considered to be a distinct improvement on exhibitions for several years past. The fortieth annual report of the Wellington Association records a membership of 221 as at the 31st August, 1935. Since that date, however, many new members have been enrolled, and it is gratifying to note that at the present time the membership is in the vicinity of 320. The Wellington Association continues to distribute pay envelopes on which are endorsed a variety of slogans appealing to workers to buy products of New Zealand manufacture. The association in the course of its work receives numerous inquiries as to where special goods of New Zealand manufacture may be obtained, and the information is supplied wherever possible. In its fifty-sixth annual report, the Canterbury Association records a roll of 187 members. The Tenth Winter Show and Exhibition was held during August, 1935, and an improvement in the attendance was recorded. In the past it has been customary to hold the exhibition in the King Edward Barracks, but in 1935 and again in 1936 the exhibition was held in premises in Moorhouse Avenue. Plans are at present being considered for the erection of a permanent building suitable for winter exhibitions, and for the general purposes of the association. The membership of the Dunedin Association stands at 149 according to the last annual report. The usual " Made in New Zealand Week " was again sponsored by the Dunedin Association during May of the present year. It is estimated that approximately 500 shop windows were availed of for this purpose. The publicity value of the displays was enhanced by the publication of special industrial supplements by Dunedin newspapers, and radio talks through the courtesy of local broad-casting-stations, as well as by the striking illuminations in the Octogan by the Dunedin City Council. The " Made in New Zealand Week " plays an important part in the annual publicity campaign of the Dunedin Association. STATISTICS RELATING TO MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES. The latest figures available are for the year ended 31st March, 1935. In comparison with the figures for the previous year, a definite improvement is observed. The general improvement in trade has had the effect of decreasing the short-time worked by factory employees, the number of short hours worked being decreased from 3,345,750 in 1933-34 to 2,111,650 in^1 934-35.

15