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11. Bricks, Pipes, Tiles, and Pottery Making. Official statistics— 1934-35. 1935-36. 1936-37. 1937-38. Establishments (number) .. 54 58 62 60 Employees (number) .. .. 618 777 772 909 Salaries and wages paid .. £111,988 £142,242 £190,038 £200,835 Value of output .. •• £285,164 £347,562 £429,891 £483,206 Value added by manufacture .. £264,729 £320,554 £394,311 £442,635 The year has been a busy one, a considerable part of production being devoted to fulfilling contracts from the Government Housing Construction Department. 12. Flaxmillw^. Official statistics — 1934-35. 1935-36. 1936-37. 1937-38. Establishments (number) .. 21 29 32 33 Employees (number) .. .. 316 506 540 537 Salaries and wages paid .. £42,160 £69,367 £92,202 £104,169 Value of output .. . • £80,711 £138,336 £179,323 £177,512 Value added by manufacture .. £68,911 £118,430 £160,656 £163,158 Conditions prevailing in the flaxmilling industry are referred to in an earlier section of this report. 13. Rope and Twine Making. Official statistics— 1934-35. 1935-36. 1936-37. 1937-38. Establishments (number) .... 6 8 7 7 Employees (number) .. .. 228 243 24-3 240 Salaries and wages paid .. .. £36,052 £39,747 £44,118 £45,102 Value of output .. .. •• £128,506 £159,925 £180,796 £191,864 Value added by manufacture .. £69,668 £87,362 £91,214 £80,723 Business has been steady for the greater part of the year, but since the advent of the Import Regulations a definite stimulus has been felt in the demand for shop and seaming twines. Rope and lashing sales have been fairly good throughout the year, and it is not expected that Import Control will stimulate them appreciably as importations in past years have been negligible. The use of improved harvesting machinery has diminished the demand for binder-twine, several small factories having been absorbed during the year. 14. Clothing. Official statistics- 1934-35. 1935-36. 1936-37. 1937-38. Establishments (number) .. .. 290 318 336 357 Employees (number) .. ■■ 9,394 10,296 11,828 12,916 Salaries and wages paid .. .. £952,844 £1,025,510 £1,322,388 £1,542,933 Value of output . .. .. £2,958,508 £3,090,027 £3,663,107 £3,962,056 Value added by manufacture .. £1,391,877 £1,508,550 £1,823,727 £2,062,746 Imports, calendar years: Apparel and ready-made clothing .. .. £1,101,887 £1,261,804 £1,814,116 £1,511,897 During the first half of the year trading conditions were difficult, particularly in the small factories. Sales were dropping and staff was considerably reduced. Between August and November conditions improved, and the new tariff helped the smaller factories somewhat. Rush conditions prevailed in ladies' frocks and men's outer clothing, and the Christmas period was uniformly good. The present position is that factories are receiving more work than can be immediately handled. Female labour is extremely scarce, manufacturers bidding against one another for experienced hands. Small dressmaking-shops are prepared to pay high wages to attract girls from factories, a fact which is disturbing to the trade. Millinery-manufacturers, costume and mantle manufacturers, and tailors have experienced steady business during the year and are very optimistic of the future. Staffs have increased in these concerns also. 15. Agriculture and Dairy Machinery and Implement Making. Official statistics — 1934-35. 1935-36. 1936-37. 1937-38. Establishments (number) .... 44 46 54 57 Employees (number) .. •• 689 880 1,152 1,200 Salaries and wages paid .. .. £127,124 £166,227 £257,084 £271,097 Value of output .. .. £492,925 £692,141 £1,091,275 £1,229,279 Value added by manufacture .. £239,354 £352,041 £526,134 £550,380 Business was fairly plentiful during the early portion of the year, but slackened off to a marked degree/ Sales show a decrease and staffs have been reduced, extremely keen foreign competition being the cause of the slackness. With the further fall in wool returns this season the outlook for the immediate future is not bright. It is considered that the recent import restrictions will not be immediately beneficial to the industry as very heavy stocks are being held by local manufacturers, and agents of overseas factories are also holding large stocks of farm implements.

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