H—44

(e) Industrial Plan Committees Four Industrial Plan Committees have been established under Part II of the Act to assist in the administration of the respective industries for which they were set up. However, the Committee concerned with - the manufacture of electric ranges has not functioned for some time, and the summary which follows deals with the other three:— (i) Flax-milling (Phormium tenax) Tndustry Measures introduced by the Government to increase production which were enumerated in the last year's report met with a co-operative response, and in the year now under review the decline in production of fibre and tow that had been so marked in the two earlier years was arrested. The volume and trend of production of fibre and tow for the past six years are shown by the following table : Tons. 1941-42 .. .. .. .. 3,371 1942-43 .. .. .. .. 3,961 1943-44 .. .. .. .. 6,637 1944-45 .. .. .. 4,969 1945-46 .. .. .. .. 3,496 1946-47 .. .. .. .. 3,655 It is hoped that production in the current year will show an even more marked increase, but it will still be far below the target of 10,000 tons per annum. Since last year's report was published further inducement to increase production has been offered by extending to ten years the period for which the Government undertakes to purchase the output. The Government's offer of finance to extend or to develop green-leaf areas has already been availed of in one or two instances, and it is hoped that further advantage will be taken of this facility. (ii) Pharmacy There has been considerable activity during the year in opening up pharmacies in areas previously unserviced or only partly serviced. Some applications have had to be declined, however, because premises in which to operate were not available. An increasing tendency for pharmacy-owners to take senior assistants into partnership has contributed in some degree towards rehabilitating servicemen. This, together with transfers of existing licences and issue of new licences, has met the problem of rehabilitation in this industry. (iii) Footwear-manufacture At 31st March, 1948, 125 licensed units were operating within the industry as the result of 21 new licences having been granted and 2 revoked during the year. The Footwear Plan Industrial Committee held ten meetings during the year. In addition a number of sub-committees were working to give consideration to several matters of particular importance to the industry. Among these are incentive-pay schemes, production allocations, and the utilization of the Committee's funds. In turn the main Committee advised the Bureau on these subjects, as well as on all matters relating to applications for licences, plant installations, immigration, and on proposals to extend research facilities and to improve employer/employee relationships. Recommendations have also been made in relation to the necessity for importations of footwear. The Committee held several conferences with the New Zealand Footwear Manufacturers' and the New Zealand - Retailers' Federations, and the New Zealand Tanners' Association, while members also attended the annual conference of footwearmanufacturers at Rotorua. Close liaison was maintained with the Standards Institute and the New Zealand Shoe and Leather Research Association on questions of research, qualities, and standards generally.

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