WAGES AND PRODUCTION

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 5009, 4 August 1926, Page 3

WAGES AND PRODUCTION

increase of primary products

WAGES SLIGHTLY HIGHER.

There has been a slight increase in the wages paid to men in the Dominion during the year, according to the figures published in the report ofc the Department elf Industries and Commerce. Wages of females have fallen slightly. Production shows a. substantial increase in values in meat freezing and most of the other industries. On the other hand, a decrease, is shown in the woollen, boot and shole, and clothing industries. Approximately £53,000 per working day were paid in wages by New, Zealand factories during the year ended March 31, .1925, The wages paid to all males employed averaged £209 per annum in 1924-25, compared with £197 10s- for the previous year. To females the average wage paid w'as £95, compared with a slightly higher figure for the. previous year, namely, £95 10s. The general average for all employees for 1924-25 was, £lB9 per annum, as against £l7B 10s in 1923-24.

The very substantial' increase in value erf production is mainly attributable to the following: Meat freezing and preserving, £2,550,711; butter and cheese making, £1,109,432 ; sawmilling, sash and doorl-making, £608,829 ; printiing and publishing, £429,402 ; chemicals and fertilisers., £283,807 ; 'furniture making, £142,000 ; engineering, £196,000 ; biscuits and confectionery, £86,000; tanning, wool scouring, and fellmongering, £107,000 ; paper bag and box making, £54,000. Unfortunately, there have been decreases of production in the woollen industry df £157,000, in the boot and silioe industry of £129,000, and the clothing industry of £61,000.