WELLINGTON NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 22 April 1927, Page 4

WELLINGTON NEWS

FREEZING INDUSTRY. I (Special to " Guardian.”) WELLINGTON, April 20. A survey of the freezing industry 1 lias been made by the Government 1 Statistician, based on tin- conditions Generally described by the companies : furnishing returns of factory prod tic- ; Lion, which during the season was reported as steady. The unusually dry season in Gisborne. Hawke's Hay ami Wairarapa districts, while the decline on the Home market for meat and wool produced during this season affected all companies. I’cfcieure was made by a number of the smaller companies to the increasing keenness of competition in the industry, which was forcing up the price-, for taw materials to a point Hint made it relatively impossible for such companies to operate. The number rf works in operation during the 1925-25 season was recorded as 15. or orpin! in tin- number in operation iho previous season. A decline of approximately 3 per cent was .shown by the value of land, buildings, plant and machinery which fell from £ 1.933.007 ill 1921-25 to 2 1.779.73:5 in 1025-2(5. It is interesting to note that the latter figure is If) per cent below

the .similar tigurc for 1922-2;). when the total was 25,917.171 which is the highest number yet recorded. The figures for 1925-25 in respect to the average number of emnloyccs engage 1 show a considerable decrease in comparison with the number for the previ

ms year. This decrease however idtte principally to an alteration in |h method of recording the number of cm oloyeos engaged rather than to sub

stauii i! in: reuses in the number of •tnployees engage I. The salary and wages bill amounting to 21.155X57 m the season 1925-25 decreased slightly from the figures recorded in the previous season when the', were 21. 171,02?. \ substantial drop of 21.135,321 or 5 per cent was recorded in the cost of materials operated upon, which showed 21 1,955, 155 in respect of 1925-20, against 2l:!.<)‘Ki, ISO in 1021-25. Tintotal value of products also declined from 215.nl 2,380 in 1021-25, to 21 f,(>75.512 in 1025-2(1, hut it is refreshing to note that the added value created by the industry, rose slightly re.m 22.715,200 in 1021-2.5 in 22,720.-1-1 f in 502-3-2(5. The total number of ■mployoes in the industry declined from 73(11 in 1023-21 to 7557 in 102125. and to 570.3 in 1025-25. The

-mount of wages paid per CIO!) •• added value” was 210 in 1023-21, ami 251 in 1921-25 and 1025-2(5. The most uitstanding feature disclosed by tinstatistics is the substantial decline in the quantity of I’roxen beef in 1025-25. The quantity of this product was "3'.'<s7cy. t. • l-.ov. teg de-line of 2-15,f'57ewt or 15 per cent in c. toj.orison with the figures for 1921-25. RETIES. OX X.Z. PRODUCE. There has been eonsiderahle agita--1 ion in Australia for the imposition of prohibitive ditties on Xew Zealand butter and hams and bacon. The Melbourne ‘‘Argus’' in discussing Iho natter, points out that the actual ■■aluo of the butter imported into Aus--1 ralitt I foul Xew Zealand during 1925-25 was 22 15.010. which contrasts with

0123 for the preceding term, and 2159.29 S for 1023-21. These lluotnations- show that, trade is essentuilK seasonal. "In any event the man on ‘he land should realise (Ifat Australia is in tt better position in regard to re•iprneal trade than is the Dominion of b'tw Zealand, ns its exports to that

"imlry far exceed Lite imports from there. Products el the farm form the 'ai-ger portion ol the i oiiwnoditivs sen; by Australia t.Nt w Zealand. Thu it I. _ t-25 wheal, of ihe taltie of 2523.021 was shipped from A'istraliit. ; 'lour 2157.055, currants and sultana raisins 2217.520 and hay and chaff 231.015. Taking trade both ways imam;- from New Zealand in 1925-25 were 22. ,! -51,052 and exports to the Dominion 2 1.000. 130. To o.v Ittde R>■eie’nn butter means attacking the base of a very profitable business arrangement lor Australia. Action ol -lie kind may have a far reaching- effect. Some of the chief advocates ol a ■ rol-ihitive duty on butter are anxious to promote co-operation with Zealand in marketing product s abroad. How cat! representatives itt that direction have a lavourablo reception it trade is not i i he all re •inroeal in a product like butter:- To prevent its admittance la-re will h,- to loree its sale abroad, and with price-cutting! such competition might easily entail a] heavy loss to Australia, dairy farmers j than if they were content to accept the' existing dutv on butter.”