H.—44,

Were arriving in the Dominion, causing some slackness in New Zealand factories. This slack period varied with different firms, and to some extent with different centres. In many cases factories were working to capacity up to January of the present year. In certain instances the slack period lasted for one month only. The period closed, therefore, with some degree of slackness apparent in the industry. The recent alterations in the Australian tariffs has afforded some relief. It is probable that over the year as a whole trading results were satisfactory. Agricultural and Dairy Machinery and Implement Making. Official statistics, year ended 31st March — 1935. 1936. 1937. Establishments (number) .... 44 46 54 Employees (number) .. .. 689 880 1, 152 Salaries and wages paid .. .. £127,124 £166,227 £257,084 Value of output .. .. .. £492,925 £692,141 £1,091,275 Value added by manufacture .. £239,354 £352,041 £526,134 Conditions in general have been good throughout the year, with increased sales recorded in the majority of cases. More intense competition is stated to have been experienced from overseas, and competition is also keen on the local market, but despite this it has been found possible to increase staffs to some extent. Certain new lines of manufacture have been developed. Some difficulty was experienced in one quarter in obtaining skilled workmen. Prospects appear fairly good. Woollen-manufacturing. Official statistics, year ended 31st March — 1935. 1936. 1937. Establishments (number) .. .. 12 12 12 Employees (number) .. .. 2,532 2,632 2,792 Salaries and wages paid .. .. £345,591 £360,782 £405,484 Value of output .. .. .. £1,048,849 £1,005,830 £1,230,829 Value added by manufacture .. £588,448 £592,741 £653,292 Imports of Piece-goods (Calendar Years). 1935. 1936. 1937. Silk and artificial silk .. .. 879,544 1,088,344 1,215,265 Woollen .. .. .. .. 652,693 852,337 1,312,846 Cotton .. .. .. .. 1,667,074 1,854,589 1,944,289 In general, conditions were good, and in some cases excellent, during the first half of the year. In the second half and towards the close of the period there was some falling away in demand, increased importations having proved an unsettling factor owing to overstocking on the part of retailers. Employment varied with individual units, although in the case of one centre, Wellington, considerable difficulty was experienced in obtaining sufficient staff. Certain benefits were derived from the alterations in tariffs. Printing and Publishing. Official statistics, year ended 31st March — 1935. 1936. 1937. Establishments (number) .. .. 373 384 381 Employees (number) .. .. 8,079 7,727 7,903 Salaries and wages paid .. .. £1,513,478 £1,575,707 £1,749,646 Value of output .. .. •• £3,758,937 £4,040,114 £4,406,804 Value added by manufacture .. £2,795,309 £2,963,172 £3,227,010 Business was very brisk throughout the year and an increased quantity of work was handled, as reflected in increased turnovers. Competition remained keen, however, and price-cutting tended to disrupt the trade in many cases. Lack of organization within the industry appears to have nullified much of the advantage accruing from increased demand. Employment has remained constant in most cases, although shortage of skilled workmen was experienced at times. Generally, trade was such that most firms enjoyed a good year. Manufacturers of ink report a good year, sales being on an average 10 per cent, higher than for the previous year. Brush and Broom Making. Official statistics, year ended 31st March — 1935. 1936. 1937. Establishments (number) .... 15 17 18 Employees (number) .. . • 253 302 335 Salaries and wages paid .. .. £37,008 £43,156 £50,198 Value of output .. •• •• £118,251 £145,863 £192,332 Value added by manufacture .. £61,910 £74,941 £100,737 Imports, calendar years : Brushes, brushware, and brooms £54,242 £70,833 £84,664 Reports indicate that trade during the past twelve months has not been quite as good as during the previous year, overseas competition being a contributing factor, while competition on the local market is also keen.

37