WELLINGTON NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 August 1927, Page 4

WELLINGTON NEWS.

NEW ZEALAND INDUSTRIES.

(Special to “ Guardian.”)

WELLINGTON, Aug. 15. , hi the Monthly Abstract of statistical information respecting the operu- A tions of factory and other industries of New Zealand in 1025-20 are given. The period covered is for the period ended -March 31st, 192f>. The building trade is the principal industry, according to the numbers engaged for there were 9.842 persons, employed the salaries and wages paid amounted to £‘2,429.831. and the added value which represents the difforenee between the cost ol materials and tin, total value of products or work done was £5.459.25,. Tn the sawmilling industry 92,1:5 persons were engaged, the wages bill amounted to £2.919,<>72, and the added value was .£4,175,042; in the printing trade 7229 persons were employed, the wages paid amounted to £ 1 .021.091. and the added value was £9,290.-111. In the clothing business the persons engaged numbered 15999. with wages at .£814.989, and the added value was £1,108.595. In the meat freezing industry the workers numbered 5798. the wages paid totalled £1.400.807. and the added value was .£2.720.144; and in the dairy industry 1140 persons were engaged, the wages account v.us £88**,982. andthe added value was £9,349,980. A relatively small amount of fixed capital represents value, of land, buildings, plant and machinery is employed in the industry, the total being £024.700. The fixed capital value in the sawmilling industry is £3,078.137, in the printing trade £3.079t057 ; in clothing manufacture. £1.020.425; in the meat freezing industry .£4.,79.793, and in dairy industry £4,305,991. The dominance of timber in New ZoaVand building is illustrated by a return of the material used. Those supplied by local builders amounted to £2.694.120. comprising timber £1,440.740, bricks £154.002, lime £22.080. cement £2lß,o4l,'and other materials £827.127. Payments to sub-contractors were: Plumbers £473;271, painters £293.920, electricians £97.220. joiners £342.299, bricklayers £229,133. and others ' £827,127. The whole cost of flic materials used by the industry is shown at £4.057,107. Buildings to. the value of £4,704.320 were completed during the year, the total including 3450 dwellings valued at £3,104.438, and 375 business premises valued at £1.108.247. M ith the addition of other building const ruction. the total value ol the industry’s output for the year was £8,1.>3,383. To give it survey of the principal secondary industries the Government Statistician has excluded from the statistics meat freezing and preserving. ham and bacon curing, butter and cheese making, sausage-easing manufacture. fellmongering and wool scouring, boiling down and manure making, gas-making, electric supply and electric tramways.

The employees in the secondary industries numbered 02.971. and flic salaries and wages aggregated £12,517,322. The materials used were valued at

£17,935.400, and the products were va filed at £40,887.009. The added value amounts to £22,951,003. and tile fixed capital was £23,024,074. In the semi-primary industries the number employed was 18,078. who received in salary and wages £4,318.393. The materials used were valued at £31,385.080, the products were valued at £43.807.250. the added value amounting to £9.491,570.

The fixed capital totalled £35,131.440. The total motive power of all factories is given as 358.849 liorse-power. which includes plant used' for the generation of electricity. Motive power engaged in ..econdarv industries amounted to

120.050 h.p. J n tho secondary industries substnntiii! increases are shown over Those of t!ic- previous year. The value of land, buildings, plant and machinery increased by 5.81 per cent, jvhii'e the number ol’ employees increased by 4.48 per cent j and the salaries and wages v.ere great-j or by 8.78 per rent. . T'hero was an increase of 1.42 per rent in the cost of materials but the added j value advanced by 4.70 per rent, the 1 aggregate value of products being greater by 8.28 per rent. Tho total value of fixed capital assets

show an increase of €9,077,278, of which no less than €0,929,235 represents addition to tho electric supply industry which were brought into operation during the year.