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In view of subsequent developments, perhaps the most interesting factor is the stability of the boot and shoe making industry over the whole of the first three decades of this century. During this period there was no major expansion of the industry, while imports of footwear continued to be important. In the expanding group the development of biscuit and confectionery making is worthy of note, and this is closely related with the relative fall in imported commodities of this type, as is also the fruit-preserving and jam-making industry and the concentrated foods and essences manufacturing industry. Again of interest is the absolute unimportance during the period of the-tobacco-preparing and cigarette-making industry, an industry which shows its major development subsequent to 1931. Other industries which show an increase are' the soap-and-candle making industry, "the sausage-casing-manufacturing industry (a process which in early days was not undertaken to any extent in New Zealand), and particularly woodware and turnery manufacture and paper-bag and box making. As an indication of the social and economic development, the rapid expansion of gas making and supply, and especially of the ■electricity generation and supply group, are worthy of note. One of the most interesting developments over the period has been the development <of the group headed " Working in metals other than gold and silver." Tin-plate and sheet-metal working increased by nearly 200 per cent., and metal working by .approximately 25 per cent. Electrical engineering was relatively unimportant, as were rangemaking and wire-working. These last three have expanded since 1931. The expansion of the printing industry is shown by the fact that employees increased from 3,000 to over 8,000 in the period under review. In the field of agriculture and dairy machines the upward trend is indicative of the tendency for more and more of such machines to be manufactured in New Zealand, .and consequently for fewer to be imported. Coach building shows a similar increase. This is largely to be accounted for in -the increase in motor-body building in the Dominion, but the real expansion of motor-body building did not take place till subsequent to 1931. The remarkable expansion of motor and cycle engineering is merely a result of the development of the internalcombustion engine. Furniture and cabinet making shows a considerable increase, with a relative decline in the importance of imports. The increase in chemical-manufacture and chemicalfertilizer refining is accounted for largely by the growing use of phosphatic manures during the period. Although the manufacture of woollen textiles increased over the period, the increase 4s relatively small, particularly in view of the availability of raw materials in the Dominion. New Zealand still at this time was dependent largely on imports for the provisions of its textiles. On the other hand, there was a fairly steady increase in the manufacture of clothing over the period, an increase which has continued to the present •day. The clothing industry in this earlier period was concerned chiefly with the lower grades of products. The better grades were imported. Subsequent to 1931 New Zealand became more self-supporting in all types of clothing-manufacture. Of the contracting industries, the most interesting feature is the decline in saddlery and harness making, which reflects the decline in the importance' of the horse for transport purposes.

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