H.—44.

Engineering. Official statistics, year ended 31st March — 1933. 1934. 1935. Establishments (number) . . .. 188 181 196 Employees (number) .. .. 2,329 2,283 2,772 Wages paid .. .. .. £414,409 £398,721 £502,117 Value of output .. .. .. £974,490 £1,054,643 £1,413,701 Value added by manufacture .. £623,079 £652,638 £855,960 The figures indicate a general improvement in all branches of the industry. Recent reports from the various centres indicate that general conditions in the industry show a marked improvement as a result of increased sales owing to a greater demand mainly from the building industry, the dairying industry, and from commercial laundries. There has also been an increase in the number of hands employed, and in the case of one centre it is reported that considerable difficulty exists in obtaining skilled labour. Production has been reported to have commenced on the following new lines : Bread-moulding machine ; plate-type pasteurizer for dairy factories ; Bakelite products. Sauce, Pickle, and Vinegar Making. Official statistics, year ended 31st March — 1933. 1934. 1935. Establishments (number) .. .. 20 19 18 Employees (number) .. .. 210 237 236 Wages paid .. .. .. £38,086 £39,940 £38,345 Value of output .. .. .. £177,861 £176,561 £192,219 Value added by manufacture .. £103,104 £102,667 £108,125 Imports, calendar years — Pickles (gallons) .. .. .. 728 1,010 944 Value .. .. .. .. £622 £669 £731 Sauce and chutney (gallons) .. 6,040 8,102 8,702 Value .. .. .. .. £7,833 £10,466 £10,781 Vinegar (gallons).. .. .. 20,379 18,676 12,670 Value .. .. .. .. £6,868 £6,136 £4,068 Conditions generally in the industry show a slight improvement. The current year opened satisfactorily, and prospects are promising. Soap and Candle Making. Official statistics, year ended 31st March — 1933. 1934. 1935. Establishments (number) .... 23 24 23 Employees (number) .. .. 470 468 513 Wages paid .. .. .. £86,570 £85,207 £86,817 Value of output .. .. .. £467,393 £468,988 £536,235 Value added by manufacture .. £251,257 £258,324 £299,695 Soap sales show an increase over the previous year. Heavy local competition in bar soap is a feature of the trade, while overseas manufacturers are well represented in the toilet-soap market. A South Island firm has recently made an important addition to its factory, and, besides the manufacture of several new lines of toilet soap, the production of talcum, face-powders, and shaving-cream is now undertaken. Throughout the industry the production of candles continues to diminish, owing to the increasing availability of electric light. Coach and Motor-body Building and Cycle-works. Official statistics, year ended 31st March— 1933. 1934. 1935. Establishments (number) .. 1,042 1,024 1,077 Employees (number) .. .. 4,560 4,491 5,473 Wages paid .. .. .. £731,296 £693,082 £889,439 Value of output .. .. £1,895,253 £1,963,497 £2,570,963 Value added by manufacture .. £1,101,961 £1,117,235 £1,453,249 The above figures show a progressive improvement in the industry during recent years. The employment position is particularly gratifying, and indicates an increase of 981 employees during 1934-35. The general improvement reflected in the figures continues. Biscuits and Confectionery Making. Official statistics, year ended 31st March — 1933. 1934. 1935. Establishments (number) .. 58 57 57 Employees (number) . . . . 2,512 2,738 2,591 Wages paid .. .. .. £313,210 £312,012 £273,078 Value of output .. .. £1,246,733 £1,379,760 £1,481,575 Value added by manufacture .. £654,443 £691,125 £734,421

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