WELLINGTON NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 15 December 1927, Page 4

WELLINGTON NEWS

WOOLLEN MILLING INDUSTRY

(Special to “ Guardian ”.) WELLINGTON, Dec. 12. Tho same twelve mills that operated during 1925-26 were working in 1926-27, and the conditions in the industry were generally described as steady during the year ended March 31st, 1927. the principal statistics as given in the “ Monthly Abstract ” show that the total value of land, building, plant and machinery, which stood at £9(0,43-1 m 1925-26, declined to £945,775, or by 3 per cent, in 1926-27. An increase of 51 or 2 per cent was recorded for the number of employees in 1926-27 (.2380) as compared with the number in 1925-26 .2326), while a similar relative increase took place in the amount paid in salaries and wages, which rose from £362,020 in 1925-26 to £369,323 in 1926-27. The total cost of materials used in the past year was 17 per cent less than tl figure for 1925-26 against a relatively small decline of 9 per cent, in the total value of products. The latter figure was recorded as £1.053.306 in 1926-27 against £1,159.771 in 1925 and £1,203.743 in 1921-25. As the total cost of materials in 1920-27 showed a greater relative decline as compared with the 1925-26 figure than the total value o! products, it is not surprising to find that the " added value” which represents the difference between the cost of materials and the value ot products remained fairly constant in 1925-26 and 1926-27. In point of fact, the 1920-27 figures (£550,169) were less than 1 per cent below those for 1925-26. Rut it is not explained why 2 per cent more labour was needed to handle 1< per cent less raw material. Expressed relatively per employee the resulting figure shows a declining tendency over the last three years, having dropped from £244 in 1924-25 to £233 in 102526, and further to £231 in 1920-27. 01 the workers engaged in the industry in 1926-27. 1053 were males and 1327 females, the former receiving in wages £236,013. and the latter £133,310. Other expenses, which would be overhead charges, amounted to £144,02-1 as compared with £144.259 in the previous year, and it would appear from this that no further economies are practicable under this head. The value added per £IOO salaries and wages was £149 as against £135 in the previous year —a drop of four pounds. With respect to materials used, the quantity of scoured wool used in t?! woollen mills during the year under review was 3.691,9191 b.. which was 1.32,0091 b, or approximately 5 per rent less than the quantity used during the previous year. The total cost of scoured wool, however, showed a much greater relative decrease than that re corded for the previous year, the figures being £425,332, against £525.665. Other materials used were valued at £77,305 against £31,142. W itli respect to the output of tbe woollen mills, two outstanding features are disclosed in the figures for 1926-2/ ; these are a substantial increase of 22 per cent, over the quantity of flannel produced in 1925-25. and a decrease of approximately 24 per cent in the output of shawls and rugs. In addition to these movements a decrease ol 16 per cent was recorded for the output of yarn sold as such. 'I he quantity o‘ tweeds and cloths produced was 963,390 yards, as compared with 989,652 yards in the previous year; the output ol llannel wits 1,310,384 yards against 1,073,209 yards, blankets 127.966 pairs against 128,485, and shawls and rugs 5-1,405, against 71,335. and yarn 396.830 against 472,1051 b. The value ol the importations of woollen manulactures of pure oi' mixed wool and readv-mado clothing for the calendar year 1926 was £3.016,323, against £3,138,992 in 1925, and £3,248,853 in 1923. which was the highest total in the past five years. During the year ended, March 31, 1927. 32,933 hours overtime, and 33,907 hours short time were recorded for the woollen mills. These figures represent decreases of 23 and 33 per cent, respectively in comparison with tliose for the previous year. As between the sexes, male employees worked 19,868 hours overtime and 10,780 hours short time, while female employees worked 13,065 hours overtime and 23,127 hours short time. The woollen industry has been only moderately prosperous, and there is a growing opinion that a merger of some of these concerns and specialisation of production would he beneficial.