OUR INDUSTRIES.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1752, 17 May 1913, Page 5

OUR INDUSTRIES.

A STRONG INDICTMENT. IMPORTANCE OF MANUFACTURES. MORE THOUGHT WANTED. Itt connection with "Industries Wenk," ami tho attention thereby concentrated upon New Zealand manufacturing industries, a Chrisbhurch 'Tress" reporter acquired from lh\ J. A. ITrostick somt> very striking facts on the couaxi of events. These facts arc so startling that every thinking man must pause and carefftlly weigh liiem. In the words of Mr. ITrostick, "tho people must think, mark, and learn what tlte iiiitlustries are worth to this country." "ATe tho people making tho host uso of their opportunities for tho development of tho industries, and for tho employment of this people?" asked Mr. l'rostick. He answered (lis query by going into a careful analysis of tho situation throughout tho whole Dominion. "Take t'he figures of tho principal industries (except meat freezing) over tlw last fan years," he said. "Look at this table :— WORKERS EMPLOYED. 1901. 100 C. 1911. Moles 33,205 40,320 31,571 Females 6,239 0,220 7,295 Totals 39,1 it -10,510 41,870 "These figures may bo analysed on n population basis. Thus wo seo that industry gave employment to people ill tho following proportions:— . , 1901—One person in every 19.7. 190G—One person in every'l9.oß. 1911—On© person in every 24.05. Whither Does This Lead? "Now," said Mr. Frostick, "tho great est activity in the restrictions imposct on our industries litis taken placo sine* and is still going on. Tho ques tipn for national consideration is: When is it leading us to? Had tho ratio o: 1900 been maintained in tho years fol lowing there would have boe.ii oniployw ill 1911 52,528 workers, instead of 41,870 As it is thero lias been a shrinkagi in our industrial employment, on i; population basis, of 10.G5S persons.. It may be contended that tho intro duction of machinery is largely respon siblo for the shrinkage in the numbo of hands employed. This contention however, cannot be maintained, becaus in tho five-year period between 1901 am 1900 tho Jtumbcr of persons employed oi a population basis was practically til same, in spito of the fact that durim tlie live-year period the valuo of plant buildings, ctc., had increased in valuo b; three and u quarter millions. In th five-year period between 1906 and ,191 tho additions to pliant, buildings, etc. was one million less than in tho previou period, consequently the shrinkage o employment is not attributed to .tho us of labour-saving machinery. "A striking result is obtained fro\n i glance in another direction. An analyst ; of tho imports per head of -populiatioi in the "panic period gives these figuros:1901. 190 G. 1911. Imports par head .£11,091 ,£15,739 .£18,02, "This fable shows conclusively tha tho shrinkage in our national productioi is being met by a corresponding increaa in importations. Tho question must bi asked: Where is this over-importatioi leading tlie country? The answer I givi is that it is producing iin'aucial depros sion, and wo arc feeling it now. Tho. Share In Industry. ; "Wo can next look at tho valuo of tlu industries "to th© workers. Tho tota. 1 wages paid to ruales has been:— 1901. 1000. 1911. ' £2, G91.0G3 £3,5G0,2U £3,925,239 "This gives an average wage of: — 1901. 1006. 19U. JCSJ.OI J8115.53 "The=o figures' represent tho higbes average" paid to any workers under tin British lias"Tho sharo of tho women workers was 1801. 1006. 19U. I ,£201,803 .£259,409 .£320,410 "This gives an averago wago of :— 1901. 190 G. 1911. £33.35 £11.78 £13.9 "Tho average Wago to both malo am female workers has been:— I 1901. 190 G. 1911. E £73.34 £62.00 £101.1 I "Tlicso figures arc also without paral -,• , . "Now tho value of material consumcc in tho manufactures of tho country i: thus shown:— 1901. 190 G. 1911. £7,051,715 £12,483,905 £13,308,373 ' "A very large percentage of this •ma t terial used in our industries is prodncci ' in the Dominion, which is, in itself, ! i strong reason why tho industries shoult bo supported. "The employers in tho various indus trios under review have invested enor mous sums in land, buildings, and plants , the sums being as follow:—

1901. 130 G. 1911. .£7,039,073 £10,310,-103 .£12,013,925 "How the workers lmve participated in tho prosecution of industries will now bo shown. The workers have received tlio following increases in wage rates:— IS9G-1901. . 1901-1906. 1900-1911. 7.7 U.S. 23.05 "Thus the increased wages to _ workers in tho period IS9O-1911 represents n Him of .£1,393,890. The Employers' Share. "Now," said Mr. Froslick, "let us look nt tho employers' side. Tho'total expenditure in 189(1 of .£5,183,115 produced goods of a selling valuo of i 7,507,085. Had tho same ratio teen maintained in 1911 tho sale valuo of manufactured goods would luivo been .£27,100,055. Instead of this it was actually only d122,112,'150, showing a shrinkago to tho manufacturers iipon tho 1890 basis of .£5,183,115. And this loss to tho manufacturers is, notwithstanding the fact that between the years 1590 and 1911 tho actual valuo of plant, etc., had increased by 148 per cent. "From tho above figures," he proceeded, "it will be seen that no attempt has been mado to pick out the least »uccesslnl_ of our industries in an endeavour to impress upon tho people of this country the necessity of an immediate awakening. Tho niaiiufActurers ami others u-spensibio for tho growth and development el our industrial life have introduced the best appliances obtainable in their pari.ienlai' industries. In this connection they have invested over twelve and a half millions .sterling. Hut, notwithstanding (Ins enormous Expenditure for appliances, public records show that their productions are being sold to-day at a lower iioriTi.taju of prolit than at any previous pr-ied m the industrial history of tho Dominion. On (he other hand, so far as the workers who are actually employed an> enm-crned, their earnings between IS9G mil Mil novo increased bv considerably over 10 per cnit. Still, had the ratio of employment in our industries io the population in 1000 have maintained in 1911 10,058. more people would have had equally profitable employment in these industries, there having been ail ample margin in the pnbl.'.o nctmtnd. a-s demonstrated by tile figures it importations. In conclusion, upon the basis of all these figures. I dunk it. is just abaut time the ]jeople litgan to think for theuisekes, ami fee u!»n what cum so they are going."