H.—44.

Salaries and Wages paid. Increases. —Motor and cycle, £210,750 ; sawmilling, £45,434:; coachbuilding, £35,929 ; agricultural machinery, £28,117 ; clothing, £26,819 : and printing and publishing, £20,920. Decreases. —Woollen-milling, £35,011 ; brick and tile, £30,536 ; and electric tramways, £22,355. Added Value. Increases. —Motor and cycle, £211,750 ; sawmilling, £182,243 ; electric supply, £99,635 ; biscuit and confectionery, £98,412 ; and printing and publishing, £92,893. Decreases. —Meat-freezing, &c., £387,131 ; fellmongering and wool-scouring, £99,469 ; and electric tramways, £48,284. Land, Buildings, Machinery, and Plant. Increases. —Electric supply, £3,038,458 ; chemical fertilizing, £191,512 ; ice-cream, £160,019 ; electric tramways, £159,305 ; motor and cycle, £153,670 ; meat-freezing, &c., £144,365 ; and sawmilling, £107,057. Decreases.—Patent medicines, £65,789 ; furniture, £43,758 ; printing and publishing, £42,179 ; boiling-down, £32,256 ; and woodware, £25,817. New Industries. The manufacture of lawn-mowers has been undertaken by an Auckland engineering company, and a substantial quantity have already been placed on the market with gratifying results. The manufacture of patent leather has been added to the products of an Auckland tannery. The Dominion Fertilizer-works at Ravensbourne, Dunedin, were officially opened by the Minister of Agriculture in January last. These works, which are on an extensive scale, are now producing superphosphate and other fertilizers. The Hume Pipe Co., Ltd., have also installed at Ravensbourne a plant for cement lining of water-conduits. It is further proposed at a later date to include the manufacture of concrete pipes and other concrete products. In Wellington, Messrs. Hibberd, Son, and Burnes, Ltd., have commenced the manufacture of gas-meters. With the exception of an enamel dial-face, the whole of the raw materials used are obtained in New Zealand and processed into the finished article at the factory. The price is stated to be competitive with imported gas-meters, which are admitted under British preferential tariff duty-free. The manufacture of steel pipes has been commenced by the Hume Pipe Co. at Lower Hutt. Co-operation with Unemployment Board. The Unemployment Inquiry Committee of the House last year requested the Department to furnish a report on what might be done to employ more workers in the secondary industries. It was considered desirable to call a meeting of representatives of the manufacturers' associations to discuss the subject, and a conference was accordingly held on the 18th September last. The manufacturers' representatives made certain recommendations, which were embodied in the Department's report to the Board. The more important matters covered were suggestions relative to preference for New Zealand goods in the purchases of Government Departments and local bodies, advances to manufacturers for capital extensions, a development of Industries Board, and State assistance in advertising propaganda in favour of New-Zealand-made goods. These and other matters have received the consideration of the Board, and action is being taken in regard to Government purchases and in relation to newspaper advertising designed to stimulate the buying of locally produced articles. Timber. The production of the main varieties of timber in the Dominion for the past nine years (ending at 31st March) is given in the following table : —

The above statistics show that the production of timber increased by approximately 12,000,000 superficial feet during the 1923-39. The number of sawmillers engaged in the production of roughsawn timber shows an increase of 13, the relative figures being 292 in 1929 and 305 in 1930.

14

Total. Kauri. j Rimu. White-pine. Matai. Totara. Others. Sup. ft. Sup. ft. Sup. ft. Sup. ft. Sup. ft. Sup. ft. Sup. ft. 1922 .. 314,972,310 21,435,728 157,345,928 68,486,633 24,830,368 19,570,561 23,303,092 1923 .. 304,351,877 22,460,759 155,627,936 66,088,219 23,747,049 20,843,718 15,584,196 1924 .. 317,069,216 19,743,196 181,093,581 56,699,443 24,326,148 18,904,361 16,302,487 1925 .. 344,094,874 22,891,535 195,572,705 65,572,439 23,947,707 18,509,551 17,600,937 1926 .. 353,224,196 22,765,877 195,451,758 75,634,869 26,141,027 14,109,576 19,121,089 1927 .. 305,675,258 18,474,981 170,498,282 65,490,059 19,380,469 14,179,462 17,652,005 1928 .. 269,783,000 15,874,000 156,314,000 53,736,000 15,207,000 15,728,000 17,924,000 1929 .. 270,214,420 10,742,967 156,239,992 56,790,306 15,752,744 8,610,639 22,077,772 1930 .. 282,405,173 10,471,297 163,293,288 58,505,364 17,972,243 9,046,159 23,116,822