H.—44.

26

Engineering. Official statistics, year ended 31st March : — 1927. 1928. 1929. Establishments (number) .. .. 214 203 205 Employees (number) .. .. 3,778 3,668 3,741 Wages paid .. .. .. £786,161 £779,764 £803,273 Value of output .. .. .. £1,847,662 £1,828,818 £2,005,978 Value added by manufacture .. £1,207,999 £1,202,751 £1,276,017 The figures show substantial increases in wages paid (£23,509), value of output (£177,160), and value added by manufacture (£73,266). Reports from northern sources state that the current year shows a falling-off in new work. A greater proportion of the work has been in the repair trade. It is anticipated that constructional engineering work will show a decline as compared with 1929 production figures. Some of the southern works have gained increased output, necessitating the engagement of additional workers, while others report conditions only fair. Gas and electric cooking appliances are obtaining a greater measure of support owing to improved design and finish. A new gas-stove model design to replace wood and coal ranges with circulating hot-water system is a New Zealand product showing progress in utility and design. Sauce, Pickle, and Vinegar Making. Official statistics, year ended 31st March : — 1927. 1928. 1929. Establishments (number) .. .. .. 20 21 24 Employees (number) .. .. .. 258 278 283 Wages paid .. .. .. .. £49,082 £49,616 £50,577 Value of output .. .. .. £210,779 £217,836 £230,769 Value added by manufacture .. .. £105,096 £113,811 £126,771 Imports, calendar year Pickles (gallons) .. .. .. 2,893 2,552 4,249 Value .. .. .. .. £1,808 £1,698 £2,593 Sauce and chutney (gallons) .. .. 15,903 17,824 17,035 Value .. .. .. .. £17,055 £16,866 £17,417 Vinegar (gallons) .. .. .. 30,820 30,310 32,657 Value .. .. .. .. £8,244 £7,699 £8,864 This industry continues to show progressive increases both in value of output and added value. Manufacturers of these lines report increased sales for the current year. Prospects indicate a further satisfactory year. Soap and Candle Making. Official statistics, year ended 31st March : — 1927. 1928. 1929. Establishments (number) .. .. .. 25 24 23 Employees (number) .. .. .. 473 470 474 Wages paid .. .. .. .. £98,531 £100,930 £100,155 Value of output .. .. .. £566,802 £521,172 £523,230 Value added by manufacture .. .. £275,976 £254,294 £246,800 Competition in the bar-soap trade continues to be keen, and in order to obtain business manufacturers are resorting to price-cutting, resulting in sales at unpayable prices. Competition in the toilet-soap trade from overseas continues to be very keen, and reports state that business in this line is difficult to obtain at reasonable prices, Coach and Motor-body Building. Official statistics, year ended 31st March : — 1927. 1928. 1929. Establishments (number) . . .. 179 190 170 Employees (number) . . . . . . 1,497 1,469 1,4-05 Wages paid .. .. .. .. £312,691 £309,961 £290,153 Value of output .. .. .. £681,912 £672,212 £685,948 Value added by manufacture .. .. £426,119 £432,732 £432,995 A feature of the statistics above is the decline in the number of establishments, a decrease of twenty having taken place during the year under review. Reports from southern sources state that the industry is still in a depressed state, necessitating the discharge of employees, and the future prospects of the industry are anything but bright. Biscuit and Confectionery Making. Official statistics, year ended 31st March: — 1927. 1928. 1929. Establishments (number) .... 79 83 94 Employees (number) .. .. 2,655 2,640 2.734 Wages paid .. .. .. £365,442 £373,896 £375,140 Value of output .. .. .. £1,626,269 £1,637,597 £1,679,990 Value added by manufacture .. £841,798 £846,915 £843,832 This industry continues to show increases in output, 1929 exceeding that of 1928 by £42,000. An appreciable increase in number of factories operating is recorded at ninety-four, an increase of eleven for the year. Imports of these lines decreased by the substantial amount of £53,000. In the previous