H.-44

14

It is pleasing to record a substantial drop in short time in factories. This figure shows a recession of 22-47 per cent, at 1,259,610 hours, of which number the sawmilling industry contributed 314,697 hours, or 24-9 per cent, of the total. The increases shown by the table below have been distributed fairly evenly over the four manufacturing districts. The greatest increases in " added value " —i.e., the difference between the cost of materials and the value of products —occurred in Group 4, as shown on the following page.

In the following table a summary is given of the position of industry, under three main headings, in each of the four provinces indicated. It will be noted that Auckland and Wellington run very closely so far as value of production is concerned, and that in both of these provinces the figures exceed the value of products of both Canterbury and its allied districts and of Otago and Southland. This is mainly due, of course, to the high value of output from the semi-primary, dairying, and allied industries in the North Island. In the purely manufacturing field both the Canterbury and neighbouring districts, and Otago and Southland, occupy a very important place.

Summary by Districts.

Year ended 31st March, Differences, 1928-29. 1928. 1929. Absolute. Relative per Cent. Establishments (number) .. .. 5,166 5,136 —30 —0-58 Persons engaged — Males (number) .. .. .. 66,000 67,174 1,174 1-78 Females (number) .. .. .. 15,756 16,506 750 4-76 Total .. .. .. 81,756 83,680 1,924 2-36 Salaries and wages paid — £ £ £ £ To males .. .. .. .. 15,300,988 15,413,399 112,411 0-73 To females .. .. .. 1,576,790 1,675,346 98,556 6-25 Total .. .. .. 16,877,778 17,088,745 210,967 1-25 Motive power (horse-power) .. .. 417,105 463,666 46,561 11-16 £ £ £ £ Cost of materials used.. .. 55,308,197 59,870,570 4,562,373 8-25 Value of products .. .. .. 87,732,003 93,172,222 5,440,219 6-20 Added value .. .. .. 32,423,806 33,301,652 877,846 2-71 Value of — £ £ £ £ Land and buildings .. .. 23,301,449 24,118,549 817,100 3-51 Plant and machinery .. .. 41,372,701 43,401,031 2,028,330 4-90 Total .. .. .. 64,674,150 67,519,580 2,845,430 4-40 Note.—The minus sign ( —) denotes decrease.

Persons engaged. ' Salaries and Wages. Value of Products. 1927-28 1928-29. 1927-28. 1928-29. 1927-28. 1928-29. £ £ £ £ Auckland .. .. .. .. 26,815 ' 27,007 5,682,534 5,626,188 30,780,743 32.401,445 Hawke's Bay, Taranaki, Wellington .. 23,386 24,601 5,032,582 5,149,087 28,345,219 30,334,218 Marlborough, Nelson, Westland, Canterbury 17,478 17,644 : 3,492,945 3,544,134 16,864,705 17,861,940 Otago, Southland .. .. .. 14,077 14,428 2,669,717 2,769,336 11,741,336 12,574,619 Totals .. .. .. 81,756 83,680 | 16,877,778 17,088,745 87,732,003 93,172,222 In the following tables the various classes of industries contributing to the factory production of the Dominion have been grouped according to general character : —