H.— 44.

Soap and Candle making. Official statistics, year ended 31st March :— 1928. 1929. 1930. Establishments (number) .. .. 24 23 18 Employees (number) .. .. .. 470 474 452 Wages paid .. .. .. .. £100,930 £100,155 £97,209 Value of output.. .. .. .. £521,172 £523,230 £508,020 Value added by manufacture .. .. £254,294 £246,800 £250,908 Competition in bar soap trade continues to be keen due to an excessive number of works. Although the total value of production declined, the value added by manufacture, due to a fall in value of raw materials used, increased by £4,108. Coach and Motor-body Building. Official statistics, year ended 31st March :— 1928. 1929. 1930. Establishments (number) .. .. 190 170 166 Employees (number) . . . . .. 1 469 1 405 1 *99 Wages paid .. .. .. .. £309',961 £290',153 £326^082 Value of output.. .. .. .. £672,212 £685,948 £754,774 Value added by manufacture .. .. £432,732 £432,995 £468,574 Reports from the South Island show a further decline in the industrv. A reduced volume of sales and a decrease in the number of employees characterize the statements received. The above production figures show substantial increases due to the trade offering being greater in the standarized types of cars and vehicles than in cars and vehicles built to special requirements. Biscuit and Confectionery making. Official statistics, year ended 31st March :— 1928. 1929. 1930. Establishments (number) .... 83 94 85 Employees (number) .. .. 2,640 2,734 2 883 Wages paid £373,896 £375,140 £393,'593 Value of output .. .. .. £1,637,597 £1,679,990 £1,829,715 Value added by manufacture , .. £846,915 £643,832 £962,669 The production figures show an all-round increase ; wages paid exceeded those of 1929 by £18,453, value of output by £14,725, and value added by manufacture by £118,837. Imports decreased by £10,489 for the year 1930 as compared with those for 1929. Reports from representative manufacturers state that the volume of sales has declined for the current year, necessitating the curtailment of staff. One company contemplates the manufacture of other lines associated with the confectionery industry not previously produced in the Dominion. Furniture and Cabinet making. Official statistics, year ended 31st March: — 1928. 1929. 1930. Establishments (number) .. .. 343 331 334 Employees (number) .. .. 2,708 2,675 2,774Wages paid .. .. .. £522,923 £515,566 £541'235 Value of output .. .. .. £1,318,957 £1,342,948 £1,381,995 Value added by manufacture .. £752,261 £756,285 £783,322 Production figures show a decided improvement over those of the previous year. Reporting 011 the current year, manufacturers generally have experienced a substantial falling-off in trade, due to present economic conditions. Ham and Bacon Factories. Official statistics, year ended 31st March :— 1928. 1929. 1930, Establishments (number) .... 41 45 45 Employees (number) .. . . 394 374 3gg Wages paid .. .. .. £98,739 £90,539 £94,270 Value of output .. .. .. £1,041,910 £989,672 £1,156,621 Value added by manufacture. . .. £334,475 £298,049 £319,178 Cost of materials used .. .. £707,435 £691,623 £837^443 The report of the Department last year intimated that an improvement would be recorded in the 1930 production statistics. The above figures have confirmed this forecast, the following increases being recorded : Wages paid, £3,731 ; value of output, £166,949 ; value added by manufacture £21,129. ' Bricks, Pipes, Tiles, and Pottery making. Official statistics, year ended 31st March :— 1928. 1929. 1930. Establishments (number) . . .. .. 71 67 66 Employees (number) .. .. .. 1,300 1,233 1,156 Wages •• •• •• •• £295,848 £278,965 £248^429 Value of output.. .. .. .. £680,220 £666,450 £645,209 Value added by manufacture .. .. £650,999 £640,916 £614,091 The above statistics reflect the decline in building activity. Reports from various centres for the current year show a further decrease in output, resulting in the production figures for the year ended 31st March, 1931, again showing a recession. It is gratifying to report an increase in sales of New-Zealand-made sanitary ware.

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