H.—ll

IV

A pronounced shortage of agricultural workers was experienced during the early summer months, and no difficulty was experienced in placing unskilled hands at this work, provided they were willing and active. This employment was largely sought by new arrivals from overseas, who desired the training in order to fit them to take up farming on their own account after the necessary experience had been gained. The clothing trades, including dressmaking and millinery, were very brisk indeed during the year, and a fresh wave of prosperity seems to have followed the tailoring industry, as the employees in this branch found very ready employment throughout the year. In factories, as will be seen from the reports supplied by the departmental officers, there has been a continued dearth of labour, especially of uirls and boys, and manufacturers have represented over and over again to the Department how greatly they have been handicapped through the want of hands. It has been suggested that the position could be met only by bringing immigrants to New Zealand, as it is quite apparent to even a casual observer thai sufficient labour is not available in New Zealand itself. As to whether there is much chance of getting factory hands in Great Britain to come to Xcw Zealand, I have very grave doubts. From time to tune the shortage of hands in our manufacturing industries has been pointed out in the Journal of the Department, and large numbers of this publication are sent to the High Commissioner in London, who in turn distributes the information throughout Great Britain. 1 know that several New Zealand manufacturers have tried advertising in Great Britain for hands without any apparent success. No doubt the severance of family ties is a factor against young women workers immigrating to -New Zealand, and again the employees in textile industries are able to earn fairly good money in the lactones of Great Britain, and do not desire to come to New Zealand as long as they are making a comfortable living a 1 Home. The official reports received by the Department from Great Britain bear out this statement —in fact, some of the more skilled workers receive wages in excess of those paid in New Zealand- — and when the difference in the cost of living is taken into account the skilled factory-worker a 1 Home has little to induce her to leave England, unless it be Ihe better working-conditions ruling in the Dominion as to hours and holidays. Factories Act. The check experienced last year in our industrial growth proved to be temporary. For this year it is my pleasing duty to again record an increase in the number of factories and of the employees engaged therein. The following table shows the growth from 1905 to 191 I (31st .March) :—

The increa.se in I he number of factories registered last year is 466, and there are 984 more hands employed than during 1910.

Year. Factories. Increase. Factory-workers. Increase. 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 19011 4,109 4,647 5,177 5,601 6,286 6,438 6,744 7,203 7,675 8,373 9,123 9,881 10,788 11,586 12,040 538 530 424 685 152 306 459 472 698 750 758 907 798 454 29,879 32,387 36,918 39,672 45,305 48,938 53,460 55,395 59,047 63,968 67,718 70,403 75,310 is,625 78,848 2,508 4,531 2,754 5,633 3,633 4,522 1,935 3,652 4,921 3,745 2,690 1,1)07 3,315 22:) VJio 12,302 262 77,806 78,790 I '''crease. 1.042 Increase. 98-4 1911 i2,768 466 Total increase 8,659 48,911