25

H.—44.

The problem of unemployment is largely connected with these elements for with the lowering of prices, which should result from decreased costs of production, demand should be stimulated and more workers absorbed. In its early stages rationalization might mean the shutting-down of the more unremunerative plants and the tightening-up of the productive machine to dispense with all unnecessary labour and materials. Alongside the machinery of rationalization there should therefore necessarily be provided machinery for the training and guidance of temporarily displaced workers as well as provision for those who cannot be transferred to other occupations. Representations have been made in official quarters by the New Zealand Manufacturers' Federation for a " Development of Industries Board," and the fact that a proposal of this character has been made by the manufacturers indicates that they realize clearly that they have many problems which await solution —problems which are peculiar to New Zealand, arising as they do from our isolation from the great manufacturing centres of the world, and from the comparative smallne.ss of our population. Sooner or later those problems must be solved if the manufacturing industries are to progress side by side with the development of the primary industries, and they can only be solved by investigation and study. In conclusion, it is desired to record the Department's appreciation of the assistance given by the various Trade Commissioners, Consuls and Vice Consuls of overseas countries resident in New Zealand, and, in particular, to acknowledge its indebtedness to His Majesty's Trade Commissioner, the Canadian Trade Commissioner, and the Trade Commissioner for the United States. Finally, mention must be made of the assistance given by other Government Departments during the year, particularly by the Customs Department, the State Forest Service, and the Departments of Agriculture and Scientific and Industrial Research. For the Department of Industries and Commerce, G. W. Clinkard, Secretary. APPENDIX A. Manufacturing! Industries. Fruit-preserving and Jam-making. Official statistics, year ended 31st March : — 1927. 1928. 1929. Establishments (number) .. .. .. 8 9 9 Employees (number) .. .. .. 260 309 325 Wages paid .. .. .. .. £45,814 £54,825 '56,862 Value of output .. .. .. .. £273,436 £325,915 £327,722 Value added by manufacture .. .. £107,359 £122,895 £132,433 Imports, calendar years :— Jams and preserves (including preserved ginger) .. .. .. .. £23,250 £28,555 £44,959 Fruits bottled and preserved in syrup — Apricots .. .. .. .. £31,882 £27,195 £28,980 Peaches .. .. .. .. £48,645 £51,469 £65,803 Pears.. .. .. .. .. £6,987 £4,066 £2,024 Fruit-pulp n.e.i. .. .. .. £5,660 £4,395 £4,257 Total .. .. .. .. £116,424 £115,680 £146,023 Production figures continue to show progressive increases. Compared with 1926, the increase in value shows the substantial figure of £92,947, or approximately 40 per cent. Imports increased by £30,343 over the figures for 1928. The items which contributed principally to this increase are jams and preserves, which increased by approximately £16,000. Of this amount, South Africa accounted for an increase of £7,438, and the United Kingdom £5,500. Reports from New Zealand factories for the year ending 31st March, 1930, show that a steady increase has been made in output. Imports from South Africa, however, have been a serious competing factor, and the Government considered that circumstances warranted the imposition of a dumping duty which has operated from January of this year. With this source of competition placed on a more equitable basis, the local manufacturer should be able to obtain a larger percentage of total requirements. One feature of the information that has been supplied is the increasing use of New-Zealand-grown lemons for the making of lemon-peel. Lime and Cement. Official statistics, year ended 31st March :■ — 1927. 1928. 1929. Establishments (number) .. .. .. 26 27 29 Employees (number) .. .. .. 899 915 875 Wages paid .. .. .. .. £216,969 £218,017 £223,219 Value of output .. .. .. £925,003 £961,561 £914,232 Value added by manufacture .. .. £687,266 £732,907 £721,518 Imports, calendar years : — Cement, building (cwt.) .. .. .. 82,846 24,854 29,558 Value .. .. .. .. .. £15,591 £7,078 £8,973 Imports increased by £1,895, compared with the figure for 1928. The number of employees engaged in local works decreased by forty ; wages paid increased by £5,202 ; and value of products decreased by £47,329.

4—H. 44.